Compare towns

Harmony vs Arkwright vs Busti

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Arkwright has the highest household income ($93k).
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

MeasureHarmonyArkwrightBusti
People
Population
2,344
859Lowest
7,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
NY: +4.2%
-5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+2.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
41.8±7Lowest
5% above NY
50.8±7.2Highest
28% above NY
46.6±4.8
17% above NY
Arkwright and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±3.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
17.2%±5.4Lowest
NY: 20.5%
19.9%±3.3
NY: 20.5%
Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±2.1Lowest
NY: 17.9%
23.2%±3.1
NY: 17.9%
23.8%±3.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
Busti and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.1%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
26.4%
NY: 40.2%
29.5%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.6
NY: 7%
3.3%±1.6Highest
NY: 7%
2.4%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
Arkwright and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,600±$11kLowest
32% below NY
$93,000±$26kHighest
8% above NY
$67,292±$9k
22% below NY
Arkwright and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$128,300±$15kLowest
70% below NY
$170,900±$30kHighest
60% below NY
$164,600±$12k
61% below NY
Arkwright and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$788±$40Lowest
51% below NY
$875±$689
46% below NY
$1,085±$106Highest
33% below NY
Busti and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,805Lowest
57% below NY
$3,760
43% below NY
$3,876Highest
41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43%±18.6Lowest
NY: 52.1%
50%±65.2
NY: 52.1%
55.5%±13.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
Busti and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.2%
NY: 14%
14.4%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
NY: 54.3%
89.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
72.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
16 yrs newer than NY
1979Highest
20 yrs newer than NY
1963Lowest
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
21% below NY
27 minHighest
18% below NY
21 minLowest
35% below NY
Work from home
8.1%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
6%±3.7Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9.5%±4.5Highest
NY: 14.9%
Busti and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — —
High school in town PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL — —
Students per teacherat that high school
8.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.