What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grove has grown the fastest since 2010 (-10.8%).

Elba has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Grove	Elba
People
Population	539Highest	485Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-17.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.9±7.5Lowest about the NY average	40.7±10.7Highest about the NY average
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.2%±6.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%	15.5%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Grove and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±4Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Grove and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,000±$11kLowest 36% below NY	$65,625±$23kHighest 24% below NY
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$109,200±$12kLowest 74% below NY	$143,300±$13kHighest 66% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$925±$58Highest 43% below NY	$763±$257Lowest 53% below NY
	Grove and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,238Lowest 51% below NY	$3,638Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	56.5%±70.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Elba and Grove are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	4.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.7%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Elba and Grove 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.