What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lima has the most people working from home (12.4%).

Alabama has the most affordable homes ($146k median).

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	Lima	Alabama
People
Population	2,064Highest	1,831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.6±5.7Highest 8% below NY	34.8±4.2Lowest 13% below NY
	Lima and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±8.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Alabama and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%	9.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest NY: 40.2%	30.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.6%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	6.7%±4.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,420±$18kLowest 19% below NY	$81,833±$11kHighest 5% below NY
	Alabama and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$203,300±$19kHighest 52% below NY	$145,600±$14kLowest 66% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$830±$177Highest 49% below NY	$775±$141Lowest 52% below NY
	Lima and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,884Highest 11% below NY	$3,444Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±24.8Highest NY: 52.1%	24.7%±6.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lima and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest NY: 14%	7.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	12.4%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lima and Alabama 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.