Compare towns
Elba vs Root vs Batavia
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%).
Batavia has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
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 | Batavia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,210 |
1,963Lowest |
6,656Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 33.8±5.6 15% below NY |
32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY |
50.2±6.1Highest 26% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.5%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.2 NY: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
29.5%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3% NY: 40.2% |
22.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.4 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7% |
6%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Batavia and Elba 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±$6k 12% below NY |
$67,207±$11kLowest 22% 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 |
$191,000±$11k 55% below NY |
| Root and Batavia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$123 40% below NY |
$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY |
$1,139±$153Highest 30% below NY |
| Batavia and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,124 37% below NY |
$3,795Lowest 42% below NY |
$5,723Highest 13% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±20.8 NY: 52.1% |
14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57%±24.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Batavia and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NY: 14% |
6.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.6% NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 28% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | 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.