What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).

Edmeston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Columbus	Edmeston
People
Population	849Lowest	2,130Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.6±11.8Highest 10% above NY	35.4±1.6Lowest 11% below NY
	Columbus and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±9Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Edmeston and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%	17.2%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Columbus and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	20%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Edmeston and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY	$67,639±$12kHighest 21% below NY
	Edmeston and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY	$147,400±$14kHighest 65% below NY
	Edmeston and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY	$988±$295Lowest 39% below NY
	Columbus and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,071Highest 53% below NY	$2,019Lowest 69% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1%	35.3%±21.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Columbus and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest NY: 14%	25.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9%	13.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Columbus and Edmeston 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.