What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Preston has the highest household income ($86k).

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	Preston
People
Population	946Highest	856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.5±1.7Highest 34% above NY	49.2±8.2Lowest 24% above NY
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%	21.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±3.6Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	McDonough and Preston 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	$85,625±$11kHighest about the NY average
	Preston 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	$122,300±$48kHighest 71% below NY
	Preston and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$950±$392Lowest 41% below NY	$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY
	Preston and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,542Lowest 61% below NY	$2,800Highest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±23.6Highest NY: 52.1%	48.5%±75.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	McDonough and Preston 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%	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	31.5%±23.4Highest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±10.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	McDonough and Preston 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.