What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Clifton has the most affordable homes ($111k 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	Colton	Clifton
People
Population	1,395Highest	768Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.5±7.6Highest 27% above NY	46.9±3.2Lowest 18% above NY
	Colton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clifton and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	22.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Colton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	0.5%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Colton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,156±$7kHighest 20% below NY	$47,228±$10kLowest 45% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,300±$13kHighest 61% below NY	$111,200±$12kLowest 74% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$475±$261Lowest 71% below NY	$806±$211Highest 50% below NY
	Clifton and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,728Highest 59% below NY	$2,378Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.7%±56.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	28.9%±43.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Clifton and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Lowest NY: 14%	14.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% below NY	34 minHighest 3% above NY
Work from home	11.1%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	9.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Colton and Clifton 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.