What stands out worked out from the figures below

Menands has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Webster has the most affordable homes ($218k 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	Menands	Webster
People
Population	4,505Lowest	5,718Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33±7.4Lowest 17% below NY	38.4±2.8Highest 4% below NY
	Webster and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±7.6Highest NY: 20.5%	15.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.4%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Webster and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	41.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.8%±4.7Highest NY: 7%	3.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,583±$11kHighest 6% below NY	$70,495±$9kLowest 18% below NY
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,300±$64kHighest 36% below NY	$218,400±$19kLowest 48% below NY
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,414±$50Highest 13% below NY	$1,239±$221Lowest 24% below NY
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,866Highest 11% below NY	$5,547Lowest 16% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.6%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	45%±9.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Webster and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%	10.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	31.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	36%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	22 minHighest 34% below NY
Work from home	18%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%	14.3%±9.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Menands and Webster 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.