What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has the most affordable homes ($174k median).

Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

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	Fayette	Paris
People
Population	3,607Lowest	4,261Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±5.1Highest about the NY average	37.7±4Lowest 5% below NY
	Fayette and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.7%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	18.5%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Fayette and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,875±$25kLowest 9% below NY	$93,491±$14kHighest 9% above NY
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,900±$29kLowest 59% below NY	$243,800±$21kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$532Highest 25% below NY	$903±$447Lowest 44% below NY
	Fayette and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,814Lowest 42% below NY	$5,104Highest 22% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.5%±27.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest NY: 14%	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	15%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Paris and Fayette 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	—	#140 of 484 in NY
School district	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAUQUOIT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	SAUQUOIT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
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.