What stands out worked out from the figures below

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Petersburgh has the most homeowners (90.9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Busti	Petersburgh
People
Population	7,452Highest	1,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±4.8Lowest 17% above NY	51.3±6.3Highest 29% above NY
	Petersburgh and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	16%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Busti and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±3.5 NY: 17.9%	23.8%±3.2 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	20%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Busti and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,292±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$77,692±$15kHighest 10% below NY
	Petersburgh and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,600±$12kLowest 61% below NY	$170,300±$23kHighest 60% below NY
	Petersburgh and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,085±$106Lowest 33% below NY	$1,100±$630Highest 32% below NY
	Petersburgh and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,876Highest 41% below NY	$3,223Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%	43.2%±42.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Busti and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Highest NY: 14%	5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	30 minHighest 9% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%	8.3%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Busti and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.