What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

North Elba has the most kids (12.5% under 18).

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	Keene	North Elba
People
Population	710Lowest	7,540Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-16.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	59.9±5.9Highest 51% above NY	42.1±3.6Lowest 6% above NY
Kids under 18	3.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	12.5%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	39.3%±7.7Highest NY: 17.9%	20.3%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	38.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	North Elba and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,542±$40kHighest 9% above NY	$72,843±$10kLowest 15% below NY
	Keene and North Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$471,400±$114kHighest 11% above NY	$431,600±$53kLowest about the NY average
	Keene and North Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$566Highest about the NY average	$1,073±$71Lowest 34% below NY
	Keene and North Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,714Highest 13% below NY	$5,315Lowest 19% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±51.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.2%±15.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	North Elba and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest NY: 14%	9.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	60.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	15 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	26.5%±11Highest NY: 14.9%	16.7%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Keene and North Elba 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	—	#310 of 484 in NY
School district	—	LAKE PLACID CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	LAKE PLACID JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.1
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.