What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colden has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

Olive has the most people working from home (31.1%).

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	Colden	Olive
People
Population	3,145Lowest	4,254Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4% NY: +4.2%	-4.4% NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.3±10.4Lowest 24% above NY	49.4±1.5Highest 24% above NY
	Olive and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	12.5%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Colden and Olive are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.8%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Olive and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Lowest NY: 40.2%	45.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7%	3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Colden and Olive are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,935±$15kLowest 14% above NY	$114,018±$29kHighest 33% above NY
	Olive and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,600±$42kLowest 29% below NY	$375,100±$33kHighest 11% below NY
	Olive and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$943±$142Lowest 42% below NY	$2,149±$321Highest 33% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,752Highest 28% below NY	$3,923Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1%	58.4%±19Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Colden and Olive are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 19% below NY	30 minHighest 9% below NY
Work from home	15%±7.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	31.1%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#346 of 484 in NY	#253 of 484 in NY
School district	SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ONTEORA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	ONTEORA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
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.