What stands out worked out from the figures below

Elba has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Harrisburg has the most people working from home (10.7%).

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	Harrisburg
People
Population	485Highest	478Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-17.5% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	40.7±10.7Lowest about the NY average	41±8.9Highest 3% above NY
	Harrisburg and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±6.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.4%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Harrisburg and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	10.5%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Elba and Harrisburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±5.7Highest NY: 7%
	Harrisburg 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±$23kLowest 24% below NY	$81,964±$16kHighest 5% below NY
	Harrisburg and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$143,300±$13kLowest 66% below NY	$168,300±$29kHighest 60% below NY
	Harrisburg and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$763±$257Lowest 53% below NY	$792±$151Highest 51% below NY
	Harrisburg 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	$2,257Lowest 66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±70.3Highest NY: 52.1%	28.6%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Elba and Harrisburg 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%	9.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1989Highest 30 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	25 minHighest 23% below NY
Work from home	5.7%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.7%±5.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Harrisburg and Elba 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.