What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).

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	Windham
People
Population	7,452Highest	1,432Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±4.8Lowest 17% above NY	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
	Windham 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%	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	23.8%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Windham and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham and Busti 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	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY
	Windham 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	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY
	Busti and Windham 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	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±13.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Windham and Busti 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%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Windham and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.