What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Pavilion has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Columbia	Pavilion
People
Population	1,508Lowest	2,089Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.7Lowest 14% above NY	47.5±5.5Highest 19% above NY
	Pavilion and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	20%±4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Columbia and Pavilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pavilion and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Columbia and Pavilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,795±$13kHighest 6% above NY	$86,462±$7kLowest about the NY average
	Columbia and Pavilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,500±$22kHighest 56% below NY	$168,700±$17kLowest 60% below NY
	Columbia and Pavilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$847±$47Highest 48% below NY	$827±$159Lowest 49% below NY
	Columbia and Pavilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,838Lowest 57% below NY	$3,443Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±49.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	35.4%±29.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pavilion and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	9.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	23 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Columbia and Pavilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	PAVILION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	PAVILION JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	6.8
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.