What stands out worked out from the figures below

Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Minerva has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

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	Centerville	Minerva
People
Population	700Lowest	836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY
Kids under 18	34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5%	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Minerva and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$21kHighest 3% below NY	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	Centerville and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY	$171,800±$22kHighest 59% below NY
	Minerva and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY
	Minerva and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,981Highest 55% below NY	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.1%±52.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	25.7%±74.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Minerva and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.7%Highest NY: 14%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	9.4%±6.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva and Centerville 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.