What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.9%).

Portland has the most affordable homes ($140k 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	Fayette	Portland
People
Population	3,607Lowest	3,924Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±5.1Highest about the NY average	38.9±3.9Lowest about the NY average
	Fayette and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Fayette and Portland 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%	20.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Fayette and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Portland 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±$25kHighest 9% below NY	$66,333±$10kLowest 23% below NY
	Fayette and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,900±$29kHighest 59% below NY	$139,500±$18kLowest 67% below NY
	Fayette and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$532Highest 25% below NY	$753±$94Lowest 54% below NY
	Fayette and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,814Highest 42% below NY	$3,066Lowest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±28Highest NY: 52.1%	35%±19.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Fayette and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Lowest NY: 14%	19.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	6.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Fayette and Portland 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	—	#480 of 484 in NY
School district	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BROCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	BROCTON MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.5
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.