What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eagle has the most kids (26.1% under 18).

Caroline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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	Eagle	Caroline
People
Population	1,231Lowest	3,280Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.8±12.6Lowest 5% below NY	40.5±3.5Highest about the NY average
	Caroline and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±9.9Highest NY: 20.5%	17.9%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Eagle and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Caroline and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	59.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
	Caroline and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,778±$19kLowest 15% below NY	$80,855±$21kHighest 6% below NY
	Caroline and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$148,900±$41kLowest 65% below NY	$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$101Lowest 55% below NY	$1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,753Lowest 58% below NY	$5,703Highest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±33Highest NY: 52.1%	43.3%±15.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Eagle and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest NY: 14%	14.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±6.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Caroline and Eagle 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	—	#345 of 484 in NY
School district	—	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER
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.