What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ephratah has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Palatine has the most expensive homes ($143k 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	Ephratah	Palatine
People
Population	1,509Lowest	3,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.4±6.7Lowest 22% above NY	53.1±5.4Highest 33% above NY
	Palatine and Ephratah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%	15.8%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ephratah and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.2%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Palatine and Ephratah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Ephratah and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,625±$23kHighest 6% below NY	$69,722±$12kLowest 19% below NY
	Ephratah and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$111,500±$27kLowest 74% below NY	$142,500±$38kHighest 66% below NY
	Palatine and Ephratah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,082±$263Highest 33% below NY	$633±$134Lowest 61% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,668Lowest 59% below NY	$3,232Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.2%±39.9Highest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±23.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Ephratah and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest NY: 14%	13.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	7.9%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Palatine and Ephratah 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.