What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colonie has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k 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	Colonie	Hamlin
People
Population	7,702Lowest	8,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.4±1.8Highest 9% above NY	41.9±3.7Lowest 5% above NY
	Colonie and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.2%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hamlin and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Colonie and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.3Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Colonie and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,983±$6kHighest 21% above NY	$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,400±$10kHighest 33% below NY	$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,570±$157Highest 3% below NY	$1,062±$137Lowest 34% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,712Lowest 44% below NY	$4,343Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±16.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hamlin and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	11.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 48% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	15.7%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Colonie and Hamlin 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.