What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cohocton has the most people working from home (10.4%).

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	Independence	Cohocton
People
Population	756Lowest	946Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-16.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±5.9Highest 5% above NY	40.1±8.9Lowest about the NY average
	Independence and Cohocton 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%	23.2%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Cohocton and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%	15.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Independence and Cohocton 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%	12.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Independence and Cohocton 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	$66,250±$10kLowest 23% below NY
	Independence and Cohocton 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	$84,100±$10kLowest 80% below NY
	Independence and Cohocton 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	$693±$59Highest 57% below NY
	Cohocton and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Lowest 60% below NY	$3,226Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±40Highest NY: 52.1%
	Cohocton 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%	14.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.4%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%
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.