What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellenburg has the most people working from home (7.7%).

Altona has the most expensive homes ($151k median).

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	Ellenburg	Altona
People
Population	1,992Lowest	2,490Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±4.5Highest 17% above NY	40±5Lowest about the NY average
	Ellenburg and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ellenburg and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	18.6%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ellenburg and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±0.9Highest NY: 7%	0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,125±$10kHighest 15% below NY	$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY	$151,400±$26kHighest 64% below NY
	Altona and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$801±$192Lowest 51% below NY	$997±$182Highest 38% below NY
	Altona and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,412Highest 63% below NY	$1,687Lowest 74% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.2%±15.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Altona and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Lowest NY: 14%	19.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 4% above NY	27 minLowest 16% below NY
Work from home	7.7%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ellenburg and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5	—
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.