What stands out worked out from the figures below

Elma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Schodack has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Elma	Schodack
People
Population	11,687Lowest	12,933Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±4.6Lowest 10% above NY	46.1±1.9Highest 16% above NY
	Schodack 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%	19.9%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Elma and Schodack 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%	25.6%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Schodack 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%	38.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	3%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Elma and Schodack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,460±$12kHighest 35% above NY	$108,074±$13kLowest 26% above NY
	Elma and Schodack 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	$302,100±$19kLowest 29% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$952±$472Lowest 41% below NY	$1,273±$182Highest 21% below NY
	Schodack 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	$6,301Highest 4% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.9%±17Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.7%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Schodack and Elma 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%	6.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 31% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	12.2%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Schodack 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	#187 of 484 in NY
School district	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	EAST GREENBUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SCHODACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	MAPLE HILL JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	9.9Lowest
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.