What stands out worked out from the figures below

Galen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Minden has the most affordable homes ($91k 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	Galen	Minden
People
Population	4,369Highest	4,181Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.7±5.2Lowest 5% below NY	38.4±8.1Highest 4% below NY
	Minden and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.8%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%	25.6%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Galen and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Minden and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	19.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	5.4%±2.6Highest NY: 7%
	Minden and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,177±$7kHighest 25% below NY	$44,195±$10kLowest 49% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$95,400±$15kHighest 77% below NY	$90,500±$9kLowest 79% below NY
	Galen and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$286Highest 47% below NY	$718±$99Lowest 56% below NY
	Galen and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,693Lowest 59% below NY	$3,180Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±25.8Highest NY: 52.1%	49.2%±8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Galen and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.5%Lowest NY: 14%	18%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	28 minHighest 14% below NY
Work from home	8.1%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5.5%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Galen and Minden 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	#475 of 484 in NY	#320 of 484 in NY
School district	CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	FORT PLAIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CLYDE-SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL	FORT PLAIN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	9.1Lowest
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.