What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Parishville has the most affordable homes ($133k 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	Parishville
People
Population	1,395Lowest	1,658Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.5±7.6Highest 27% above NY	45.8±10.6Lowest 15% above NY
	Colton and Parishville 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%	18.9%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Parishville 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%	25.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Colton and Parishville 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%	30.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	5.5%±4.1Highest NY: 7%
	Parishville and Colton 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	$77,095±$10kHighest 10% below NY
	Parishville 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±$13kHighest 61% below NY	$133,300±$45kLowest 69% below NY
	Colton and Parishville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$475±$261Lowest 71% below NY	$1,175±$662Highest 28% below NY
	Parishville 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	$2,290Lowest 65% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.7%±56.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.6%±28.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Parishville 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%	13.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% below NY	23 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Colton and Parishville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	PARISHVILLE-HOPKINTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	PARISHVILLE-HOPKINTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.4
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.