What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clarence has the most expensive homes ($409k median).

Penfield has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Clarence	Penfield
People
Population	33,097Lowest	38,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+8.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49±2.4Highest 23% above NY	45±1.6Lowest 13% above NY
	Clarence and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	23%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Penfield and Clarence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±1.8Highest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Clarence and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	58%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,800±$14kHighest 45% above NY	$119,154±$5kLowest 39% above NY
	Clarence and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,500±$24kHighest 4% below NY	$291,500±$12kLowest 31% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$205Lowest 21% below NY	$1,473±$120Highest 9% below NY
	Penfield and Clarence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,907Lowest 5% above NY	$7,223Highest 10% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±7.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±6.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Penfield and Clarence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest NY: 14%	5.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 30 yrs newer than NY	1981Lowest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 29% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	19.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	23.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Penfield and Clarence 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	#28 of 484 in NY	#21 of 484 in NY
School district	CLARENCE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CLARENCE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.2Highest
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.