What stands out worked out from the figures below

Champlain has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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

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	Champlain	Busti
People
Population	5,667Lowest	7,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.4±2.3Lowest 12% above NY	46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY
	Busti and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	19.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Champlain and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.8%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Busti and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Champlain and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,866±$6kLowest 30% below NY	$67,292±$9kHighest 22% below NY
	Busti and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,400±$16kHighest 59% below NY	$164,600±$12kLowest 61% below NY
	Champlain and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$102Lowest 45% below NY	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY
	Busti and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,681Lowest 44% below NY	$3,876Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.4%±13.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Busti and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Lowest NY: 14%	14.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	72.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 26% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Champlain and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#54 of 484 in NY	—
School district	NORTHEASTERN CLINTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.