What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Forestport has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

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	Forestport
People
Population	1,395Lowest	1,693Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.5±7.6Highest 27% above NY	49±10.4Lowest 23% above NY
	Colton and Forestport 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%	22.7%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Forestport 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%	27.7%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Colton and Forestport 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%	32.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	0.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Colton and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,156±$7kLowest 20% below NY	$72,813±$17kHighest 15% below NY
	Forestport and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,300±$13kLowest 61% below NY	$218,700±$28kHighest 48% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$475±$261Lowest 71% below NY	$621±$85Highest 62% below NY
	Forestport 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	$2,435Lowest 63% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.7%±56.9Highest NY: 52.1%	19.2%±41.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Colton and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Highest NY: 14%	4.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% below NY	31 minHighest 6% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	15%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Forestport and Colton 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.