What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has the oldest population (median age 44.2).

Leon has the most kids (42.2% under 18).

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	Dayton	Leon
People
Population	1,829Highest	1,459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	26.4±5.3Lowest 34% below NY
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	42.2%±15Highest NY: 20.5%
	Leon and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%	10.5%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Dayton and Leon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,553±$10kHighest 20% below NY	$56,048±$11kLowest 35% below NY
	Dayton and Leon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$111,700±$13kHighest 74% below NY	$103,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY
	Dayton and Leon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$192Lowest 44% below NY	$960±$282Highest 41% below NY
	Leon and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,161Lowest 52% below NY	$3,259Highest 50% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26%±17.7Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dayton and Leon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.3%Lowest NY: 14%	21.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 6% above NY	35 minHighest 7% above NY
Work from home	13.6%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.2%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Leon and Dayton 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.