What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).

Beacon has the most people working from home (21.2%).

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	Malta	Beacon
People
Population	17,398Highest	14,834Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.4±2.2Highest 12% above NY	42±2.2Lowest 6% above NY
	Malta and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	20%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Beacon and Malta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	48.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Malta and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,425±$12kHighest 28% above NY	$107,859±$21kLowest 25% above NY
	Malta and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,300±$33kLowest 14% below NY	$471,600±$27kHighest 11% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$121Lowest 9% below NY	$1,658±$145Highest about the NY average
	Beacon and Malta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,830Lowest 11% below NY	$7,958Highest 21% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.1%±8.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	46.4%±9.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Beacon and Malta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest NY: 14%	9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	61.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 31 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 24% below NY	41 minHighest 27% above NY
Work from home	16.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	21.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Beacon and Malta 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	#8 of 484 in NY	#423 of 484 in NY
School district	SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	BEACON 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.