What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gates has the most affordable homes ($171k median).

Rotterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Gates	Rotterdam
People
Population	29,008Lowest	30,616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±2.2Highest 10% above NY	39.9±1.3Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.3%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Rotterdam and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	18.4%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.7Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Gates and Rotterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,080±$4kLowest 10% below NY	$86,331±$2kHighest about the NY average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,500±$3kLowest 60% below NY	$227,000±$4kHighest 46% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,196±$60Lowest 26% below NY	$1,292±$70Highest 20% below NY
	Rotterdam and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 22% below NY	$4,845Lowest 26% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±6.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.3%±7.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Rotterdam and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest NY: 14%	7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	74.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 46% below NY	23 minHighest 31% below NY
Work from home	17%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	15.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gates and Rotterdam 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	#324 of 484 in NY	#137 of 484 in NY
School district	GATES CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SCHALMONT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	GATES CHILI HIGH SCHOOL	MOHONASEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	14.0Highest
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.