What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dryden has the most expensive homes ($243k median).

Groton has the most kids (23.2% 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	Dryden	Groton
People
Population	13,604Highest	5,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±2.6Lowest about the NY average	43±7.9Highest 8% above NY
	Groton and Dryden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	19%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Groton and Dryden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.2%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,127±$4kHighest 6% below NY	$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY
	Dryden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,600±$15kHighest 43% below NY	$163,900±$9kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$90Highest 34% below NY	$1,018±$239Lowest 37% below NY
	Dryden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,334Highest 4% below NY	$3,955Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.4%±8.8Highest NY: 52.1%	49%±25.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dryden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	75%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 41% below NY	21 minHighest 35% below NY
Work from home	15.3%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%	11.2%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Dryden and Groton 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	#356 of 484 in NY	#322 of 484 in NY
School district	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DRYDEN HIGH SCHOOL	GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	11.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.