What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colonie has the most kids (20% under 18).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Mendon
People
Population	7,702Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±1.8Lowest 12% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Colonie and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colonie and Mendon 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 29% above U.S.	$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Colonie and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,400±$10kLowest 14% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,570±$157Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Colonie and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,712Lowest 19% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 36% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	15.7%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Colonie 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

U.S. 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.