What stands out worked out from the figures below

Forestport has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

Colton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

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	Forestport	Colton
People
Population	1,693Highest	1,395Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49±10.4Lowest 23% above NY	50.5±7.6Highest 27% above NY
	Colton and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	16.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Forestport and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	29.9%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Colton and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Colton and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,813±$17kHighest 15% below NY	$69,156±$7kLowest 20% below NY
	Forestport and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,700±$28kHighest 48% below NY	$164,300±$13kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$621±$85Highest 62% below NY	$475±$261Lowest 71% below NY
	Forestport and Colton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,435Lowest 63% below NY	$2,728Highest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.2%±41.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	22.7%±56.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Colton and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NY: 14%	13.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% below NY	28 minLowest 15% below NY
Work from home	15%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Forestport and Colton 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.