What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clay has the most affordable homes ($206k median).

Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Clay	Pendleton
People
Population	59,995Highest	7,034Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average	46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pendleton and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pendleton and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	34.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7%	4%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Clay and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,707±$6kLowest 6% above NY	$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY
	Pendleton and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,900±$6kLowest 51% below NY	$294,300±$39kHighest 31% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY	$994±$119Lowest 39% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,087Lowest 23% below NY	$6,623Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%	9.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 19 yrs newer than NY	1978 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 34% below NY	23 minHighest 31% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pendleton and Clay 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	#249 of 484 in NY	#67 of 484 in NY
School district	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	14.5Highest
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.