What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).

Sullivan has the most people working from home (11.9%).

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	Lenox	Sullivan
People
Population	8,658Lowest	14,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.1±2Highest 13% above NY	45±2.1Lowest 13% above NY
	Lenox and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%	19.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lenox and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%	21.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lenox and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Sullivan and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,900±$8kLowest 12% below NY	$80,948±$6kHighest 6% below NY
	Sullivan and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,600±$9kLowest 62% below NY	$194,100±$12kHighest 54% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$935±$83Highest 42% below NY	$863±$135Lowest 47% below NY
	Lenox and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,184Lowest 36% below NY	$4,542Highest 31% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.6%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sullivan and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest NY: 14%	8.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	26 minHighest 21% below NY
Work from home	8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.9%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sullivan and Lenox 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	#412 of 484 in NY	#87 of 484 in NY
School district	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL	CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.3Lowest
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.