What stands out worked out from the figures below

Elma has the most expensive homes ($358k median).

Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Elma	Pendleton
People
Population	11,687Highest	7,034Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±4.6Lowest 10% above NY	46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY
	Pendleton and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Elma and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pendleton and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest NY: 40.2%	34.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5 NY: 7%	4%±2.1 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,460±$12kHighest 35% above NY	$113,750±$27kLowest 32% above NY
	Elma and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,900±$27kHighest 16% below NY	$294,300±$39kLowest 31% below NY
	Elma and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$952±$472Lowest 41% below NY	$994±$119Highest 39% below NY
	Pendleton and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 24% below NY	$6,623Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.9%±17Highest NY: 52.1%	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Elma and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest NY: 14%	9.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 31% below NY	23 minHighest 31% below NY
Work from home	12.2%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pendleton and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#90 of 484 in NY	#67 of 484 in NY
School district	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	14.5Highest
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.