What stands out worked out from the figures below

Covert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

Nelson has the highest household income ($82k).

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	Covert	Nelson
People
Population	2,004Highest	1,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.4±4.3Highest 27% above NY	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY
	Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%	19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%
	Nelson and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,688±$16kLowest 12% below NY	$82,063±$18kHighest 5% below NY
	Nelson and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,200±$48kLowest 46% below NY	$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY
	Nelson and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,257±$236Highest 22% below NY	$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY
	Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,724Lowest 43% below NY	$3,990Highest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest NY: 14%	7.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY	1957Highest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	29 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	15.5%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	SOUTH SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.