What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halfmoon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.2%).

Clifton Park has the highest household income ($133k).

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	Halfmoon	Clifton Park
People
Population	26,245Lowest	37,991Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.1±2Lowest 6% above NY	44.1±1Highest 11% above NY
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.4%±1.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.2%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	58.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	5.2%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,712±$7kLowest 17% above NY	$133,359±$6kHighest 55% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,700±$21kLowest 9% below NY	$395,400±$12kHighest 7% below NY
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,559±$66Highest 4% below NY	$1,388±$96Lowest 14% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Highest 12% below NY	$5,793Lowest 12% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±8.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Highest NY: 14%	2.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 37 yrs newer than NY	1982Lowest 23 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	26 minHighest 20% below NY
Work from home	16.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.5%±2.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Clifton Park and Halfmoon 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	#206 of 484 in NY	#32 of 484 in NY
School district	MECHANICVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NISKAYUNA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	MECHANICVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	SHENENDEHOWA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	13.5Highest
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.