What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kent has the highest household income ($129k).

Elma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Kent	Elma
People
Population	12,896Highest	11,687Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.4±1.4Lowest 9% above NY	43.8±4.6Highest 10% above NY
	Elma and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Elma and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	44%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Kent and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,012±$13kHighest 50% above NY	$116,460±$12kLowest 35% above NY
	Kent and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,100±$15kHighest 8% below NY	$357,900±$27kLowest 16% below NY
	Kent and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,606±$224Highest about the NY average	$952±$472Lowest 41% below NY
	Kent and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,796Highest 49% above NY	$4,999Lowest 24% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.8%±49.7Highest NY: 52.1%	29.9%±17Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Kent and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest NY: 14%	3.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 20% above NY	22 minLowest 31% below NY
Work from home	10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Elma and Kent 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	#296 of 484 in NY	#90 of 484 in NY
School district	CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.6
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.