What stands out worked out from the figures below

De Kalb has the most kids (26.9% under 18).

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Canton is a college town. 33.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	De Kalb	Canton
People
Population	2,067Lowest	11,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.4±5.4Highest 4% above NY	28.3±3.9Lowest 29% below NY
Kids under 18	26.9%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%	13.1%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.4%±3Highest NY: 17.9%	13.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	44.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	33.8%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,467±$13kLowest 33% below NY	$70,401±$11kHighest 18% below NY
	Canton and De Kalb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$103,600±$14kLowest 76% below NY	$163,200±$13kHighest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$967±$276Highest 40% below NY	$880±$154Lowest 46% below NY
	De Kalb and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,816Lowest 72% below NY	$4,308Highest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±60Highest NY: 52.1%	34.1%±13.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	De Kalb and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%	13.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	59.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 22% below NY	16 minLowest 52% below NY
Work from home	4.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.6%±5Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#125 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CANTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	H C WILLIAMS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.7
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.