What stands out worked out from the figures below

Elba has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Grove has grown the fastest since 2010 (-10.8%).

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	Elba	Grove
People
Population	485Lowest	539Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-17.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-10.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±10.7Highest about the NY average	39.9±7.5Lowest about the NY average
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±6.8Highest NY: 20.5%	16.1%±6.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.4%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Grove and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	20.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±4Highest NY: 7%
	Grove and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,625±$23kHighest 24% below NY	$55,000±$11kLowest 36% below NY
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$143,300±$13kHighest 66% below NY	$109,200±$12kLowest 74% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$763±$257Lowest 53% below NY	$925±$58Highest 43% below NY
	Grove and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,638Highest 45% below NY	$3,238Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±70.3Highest NY: 52.1%	53.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	13.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	35 minHighest 6% above NY
Work from home	5.7%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.