Compare towns

Erwin vs Potter vs Ballston Spa

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k median).
Ballston Spa has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

MeasureErwinPotterBallston Spa
People
Population
7,965Highest
1,871Lowest
5,027
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%
NY: +4.2%
-5.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
43.8±2Highest
10% above NY
35.1±6.7Lowest
12% below NY
42.7±3.3
7% above NY
Erwin and Ballston Spa 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%
29%±5.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
21.5%±6.5
NY: 20.5%
Potter and Ballston Spa 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%
14.4%±3.7
NY: 17.9%
14.1%±2.8Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Erwin and Potter 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%
10.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
45.8%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
NY: 7%
4.6%±3.7Highest
NY: 7%
4.1%±2.5Lowest
NY: 7%
Potter 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±$16k
about the NY average
$67,344±$19kLowest
22% below NY
$101,667±$15kHighest
18% above NY
Ballston Spa 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±$26k
47% below NY
$130,300±$23kLowest
69% below NY
$308,200±$29kHighest
27% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$136Highest
22% below NY
$1,005±$136Lowest
38% below NY
$1,122±$238
31% below NY
Erwin and Ballston Spa 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
$2,796Lowest
58% below NY
$5,335
19% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±14Highest
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±18.6
NY: 52.1%
37.9%±20.3Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Erwin and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%
NY: 14%
10%Highest
NY: 14%
8.5%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
NY: 54.3%
79.5%Highest
NY: 54.3%
65.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
1969
10 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
54% below NY
25 min
25% below NY
25 minHighest
24% below NY
Work from home
9.5%±4.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
13.4%±4.6
NY: 14.9%
18.6%±7.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Ballston Spa and Potter 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 — —
School district CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.