What stands out worked out from the figures below

Friendship has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

Persia has the most expensive homes ($100k 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	Friendship	Persia
People
Population	1,635Lowest	2,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.9±10.1Highest 8% above NY	41.7±15Lowest 5% above NY
	Friendship and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Friendship and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Persia and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,750±$7kHighest 31% below NY	$54,495±$8kLowest 37% below NY
	Friendship and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$78,600±$13kLowest 81% below NY	$100,000±$23kHighest 76% below NY
	Persia and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$88Highest 43% below NY	$765±$65Lowest 53% below NY
	Friendship and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,708Highest 59% below NY	$2,655Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±29.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	56.1%±16Highest NY: 52.1%
	Persia and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.2%Highest NY: 14%	21.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 33% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	5.7%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	4.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Friendship and Persia 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.