Compare towns
Elba vs Root
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elba has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).
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.
| Measure | Elba | Root |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,210Highest |
1,963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 33.8±5.6Highest 15% below NY |
32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Root and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $91,875±$21kHighest 7% above NY |
$75,771±$6kLowest 12% below NY |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $149,700±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$123Highest 40% below NY |
$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,124Highest 37% below NY |
$3,795Lowest 42% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NY: 14% |
6.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 28% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Root and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | ELBA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | ELBA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.4 |
— |
| 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.