What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fort Plain has the most affordable homes ($81k median).

Falconer has the highest household income ($60k).

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	Fort Plain	Falconer
People
Population	2,290Highest	2,149Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-16.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.2±10Lowest 9% above NY	43.5±5.5Highest 9% above NY
	Falconer and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Falconer and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%	14.6%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Fort Plain and Falconer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	15.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	2.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Falconer and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$34,738±$22kLowest 60% below NY	$60,056±$6kHighest 30% below NY
	Falconer and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$80,900±$16kLowest 81% below NY	$98,400±$15kHighest 77% below NY
	Falconer and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$709±$101Lowest 56% below NY	$745±$192Highest 54% below NY
	Falconer and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,938Highest 55% below NY	$2,369Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±11.5Highest NY: 52.1%	49.6%±13.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Fort Plain and Falconer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest NY: 14%	10.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5% NY: 54.3%	71.5% NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1945Highest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 24% below NY	22 minLowest 33% below NY
Work from home	3.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.3%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Falconer and Fort Plain 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.