What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithville has the most expensive homes ($173k 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	McDonough	Smithville
People
Population	946Lowest	1,525Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.5±1.7Highest 34% above NY	43.1±3.2Lowest 8% above NY
Kids under 18	14.1%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.6%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Smithville and McDonough 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%	16.1%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	McDonough and Smithville 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%	19.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±3.6Lowest NY: 7%	5.8%±5.8Highest NY: 7%
	Smithville and McDonough 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	$70,433±$7kHighest 18% below NY
	Smithville 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	$173,200±$42kHighest 59% below NY
	Smithville 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	$889±$186Lowest 45% below NY
	McDonough and Smithville 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	$4,254Highest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±23.6Highest NY: 52.1%	54.9%±31.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	McDonough and Smithville 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%	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	31.5%±23.4Highest NY: 14.9%	4.4%±2.6Lowest 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.