What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hastings has the most homeowners (79.1%).

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Hastings	Clay
People
Population	9,345Lowest	59,995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.1±3.7Highest 8% above NY	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average
	Hastings and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clay and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2 NY: 7%	4.4%±0.7 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,027±$8kLowest about the NY average	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY
	Clay and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,700±$17kLowest 56% below NY	$205,900±$6kHighest 51% below NY
	Clay and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$917±$129Lowest 43% below NY	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,565Lowest 31% below NY	$5,087Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±11.8Highest NY: 52.1%	46.6%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hastings and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest NY: 14%	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% below NY	21 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	8.9%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Clay and Hastings 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	#328 of 484 in NY	#249 of 484 in NY
School district	CENTRAL SQUARE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PAUL V MOORE HIGH SCHOOL	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.0Highest
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.