What stands out worked out from the figures below

McDonough has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Pharsalia has the most kids (27.5% 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	McDonough	Pharsalia
People
Population	946Highest	563Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.5±1.7Highest 34% above NY	44.9±11.7Lowest 13% above NY
	McDonough and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.5%±9.5Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	22.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%	16.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	McDonough and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13%Lowest NY: 40.2%	15.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±3.6Highest NY: 7%	2.7%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	McDonough and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,266±$11kLowest 21% below NY	$77,083±$10kHighest 10% below NY
	Pharsalia and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$113,100±$40kLowest 73% below NY	$126,400±$21kHighest 70% below NY
	Pharsalia and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$950±$392Highest 41% below NY	$913±$521Lowest 44% below NY
	McDonough and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,542Highest 61% below NY	$1,925Lowest 71% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±23.6Highest NY: 52.1%	29.4%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	McDonough and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest NY: 14%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	30 minLowest 9% below NY
Work from home	31.5%±23.4Highest NY: 14.9%	3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.