What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

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	Groton	Vernon
People
Population	1,834Highest	1,238Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.2±2.8Lowest 16% above NY	47.1±6.5Highest 18% above NY
	Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%	14.3%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Groton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	20.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Groton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	18.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	8.2%±5.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,114±$10kLowest 30% below NY	$63,988±$15kHighest 26% below NY
	Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,700±$7kLowest 63% below NY	$184,300±$23kHighest 57% below NY
	Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$832±$67Lowest 49% below NY	$921±$54Highest 43% below NY
	Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,158Highest 37% below NY	$3,393Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.2%±11.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.8%±19Highest NY: 52.1%
	Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NY: 14%	12.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	59.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1942Highest 17 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 28% below NY	22 minLowest 32% below NY
Work from home	9.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.4%±18.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Vernon and Groton 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	#322 of 484 in NY	#368 of 484 in NY
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.