What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pharsalia has the most people working from home (3.8%).

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	Pharsalia
People
Population	756Highest	563Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY	44.9±11.7Highest 13% above NY
	Pharsalia 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%	27.5%±9.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pharsalia 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%	16.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Independence and Pharsalia 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%	15.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	2.7%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Independence and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY	$77,083±$10kHighest 10% below NY
	Pharsalia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY	$126,400±$21kHighest 70% below NY
	Pharsalia and Independence 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	$913±$521Highest 44% below NY
	Pharsalia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Highest 60% below NY	$1,925Lowest 71% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	29.4%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pharsalia 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%	6.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% below NY	30 minHighest 9% below NY
Work from home	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	3.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pharsalia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.