What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Persia has the shortest commute (27 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	Dayton	Persia
People
Population	1,829Lowest	2,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	41.7±15Lowest 5% above NY
	Dayton and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Dayton and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Dayton and Persia 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	$54,495±$8kLowest 37% below NY
	Dayton and Persia 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	$100,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY
	Dayton and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$192Highest 44% below NY	$765±$65Lowest 53% below NY
	Dayton and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,161Highest 52% below NY	$2,655Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26%±17.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	56.1%±16Highest NY: 52.1%
	Persia and Dayton 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%	21.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%	4.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.