What stands out worked out from the figures below

Corning has the most kids (24.8% under 18).

Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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	Corning	Plattsburgh
People
Population	5,829Lowest	11,830Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.6±3.6Lowest 5% above NY	45.2±1.9Highest 14% above NY
	Plattsburgh and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Corning and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Plattsburgh and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Corning and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,482±$10kHighest about the NY average	$71,546±$5kLowest 17% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY	$179,900±$11kHighest 58% below NY
	Plattsburgh and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,289±$219Highest 20% below NY	$1,053±$86Lowest 35% below NY
	Corning and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,895Highest 41% below NY	$3,573Lowest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±15Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Corning and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NY: 14%	10.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 38% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	8.3%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Corning and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#393 of 484 in NY	#153 of 484 in NY
School district	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	4.0	—
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.