What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamburg has the most affordable homes ($249k median).

Ballston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21%).

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	Hamburg	Ballston
People
Population	9,792Lowest	12,433Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+21%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.3±4.2Highest 11% above NY	42.6±2.1Lowest 7% above NY
	Hamburg and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ballston and Hamburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	18.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hamburg and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	50.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±3.2Highest NY: 7%	2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,292±$24kLowest 31% above NY	$116,161±$14kHighest 35% above NY
	Ballston and Hamburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,600±$16kLowest 41% below NY	$373,200±$16kHighest 12% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,097±$63Lowest 32% below NY	$1,688±$220Highest 4% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,833Highest 4% above NY	$6,103Lowest 7% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±12.3Highest NY: 52.1%	34.2%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hamburg and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NY: 14%	4.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	77.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	13.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.3%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ballston and Hamburg 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	—	#33 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	BALLSTON SPA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
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.