What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Independence has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7%).

Andover has the most people working from home (4.1%).

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	Independence	Andover
People
Population	756Lowest	1,509Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY	45.3±6.8Highest 14% above NY
	Andover and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Andover and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	22%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Andover and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Independence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$15kHighest 20% below NY	$64,688±$11kLowest 25% below NY
	Independence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$100,800±$27kHighest 76% below NY	$78,200±$6kLowest 82% below NY
	Independence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY	$778±$61Highest 52% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Lowest 60% below NY	$2,839Highest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	23.5%±17.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Andover and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest NY: 14%	11.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.1%±2.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Andover and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.