What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fine has the most people working from home (13.7%).

Clifton has the most expensive homes ($111k 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	Fine	Clifton
People
Population	1,284Highest	768Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-10.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.3±4.1Highest 41% above NY	46.9±3.2Lowest 18% above NY
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clifton and Fine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%	22.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	0.5%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,861±$9kHighest 30% below NY	$47,228±$10kLowest 45% below NY
	Fine and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,600±$17kLowest 80% below NY	$111,200±$12kHighest 74% below NY
	Clifton and Fine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,043±$106Highest 36% below NY	$806±$211Lowest 50% below NY
	Fine and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,828Lowest 72% below NY	$2,378Highest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±56.1Highest NY: 52.1%	28.9%±43.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Fine and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.2%Highest NY: 14%	14.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	34 minHighest 3% above NY
Work from home	13.7%±9.5Highest NY: 14.9%	9.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Fine and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	CLIFTON-FINE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	CLIFTON-FINE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	5.4	—
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.