What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colton has the most people working from home (11.1%).

Piercefield has the highest household income ($89k).

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	Piercefield
People
Population	1,395Highest	311Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	50.5±7.6Lowest 27% above NY	55.2±24.4Highest 39% above NY
	Piercefield and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%	14.1%±8.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Colton and Piercefield 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%	29.3%±8.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Colton and Piercefield 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%	25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	0%±6.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Colton and Piercefield 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	$89,191±$13kHighest 4% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,300±$13kHighest 61% below NY	$153,100±$48kLowest 64% below NY
	Colton and Piercefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$475±$261 71% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,728Highest 59% below NY	$2,367Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.7%±56.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	71.4%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Piercefield and Colton 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%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% below NY	22 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	5%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Colton and Piercefield 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.