What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erwin has the shortest commute (15 min average).

Milton has the most people working from home (15.5%).

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	Erwin	Milton
People
Population	7,965Lowest	19,036Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±2Highest 10% above NY	42.2±2.3Lowest 6% above NY
	Erwin and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Milton and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	16%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Erwin and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Milton and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,333±$16kLowest about the NY average	$100,322±$9kHighest 17% above NY
	Milton and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,700±$26kLowest 47% below NY	$311,500±$19kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$136Lowest 22% below NY	$1,423±$89Highest 12% below NY
	Milton and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,829Highest 11% below NY	$4,385Lowest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±10.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Erwin and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 54% below NY	25 minHighest 23% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.5%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Milton and Erwin 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	#431 of 484 in NY	#330 of 484 in NY
School district	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.