What stands out worked out from the figures below

Farmingdale has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Bethpage has the most homeowners (91.2%).

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	Farmingdale	Bethpage
People
Population	8,474Lowest	17,123Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.5±6.7Lowest 9% above NY	47.4±2.6Highest 19% above NY
	Bethpage and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.4%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bethpage and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.5%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Bethpage and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	43.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Bethpage and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,980±$15kHighest 43% above NY	$122,257±$22kLowest 42% above NY
	Farmingdale and Bethpage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$559,700±$31kLowest 32% above NY	$605,900±$18kHighest 43% above NY
	Bethpage and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,520±$308Highest 55% above NY	$2,014±$352Lowest 24% above NY
	Farmingdale and Bethpage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	58.1%±6.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Bethpage and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%	5.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	15.6%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Bethpage and Farmingdale 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.