Compare towns

Harmony vs Brookfield 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).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).
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.

MeasureHarmonyBrookfieldBusti
People
Population
2,344
2,150Lowest
7,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
NY: +4.2%
-11.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+2.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
41.8±7
5% above NY
41.2±6.1Lowest
4% above NY
46.6±4.8Highest
17% above NY
Busti and Harmony 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%
21.8%±4.9
NY: 20.5%
19.9%±3.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Harmony and Brookfield 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%
19.9%±4
NY: 17.9%
23.8%±3.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
Busti and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.1%
NY: 40.2%
16.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
29.5%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.6Highest
NY: 7%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
2.4%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
Harmony and Brookfield 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
$69,205±$9kHighest
20% below NY
$67,292±$9k
22% below NY
Brookfield 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
$152,800±$28k
64% below NY
$164,600±$12kHighest
61% below NY
Busti and Brookfield 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
$981±$75
39% below NY
$1,085±$106Highest
33% below NY
Busti and Brookfield 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
$3,197
51% below NY
$3,876Highest
41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43%±18.6Lowest
NY: 52.1%
51.4%±35.6
NY: 52.1%
55.5%±13.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
Busti and Brookfield 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%
16.6%Highest
NY: 14%
14.4%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
NY: 54.3%
84.1%
NY: 54.3%
72.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
16 yrs newer than NY
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1963Lowest
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
21% below NY
36 minHighest
11% above NY
21 minLowest
35% below NY
Work from home
8.1%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
11.5%±4.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
9.5%±4.5
NY: 14.9%
Brookfield and Busti 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
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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.