What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).

Leyden has the most people working from home (9.3%).

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	Mentz	Leyden
People
Population	1,753Highest	1,661Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY	43.6±3.8Highest 10% above NY
	Leyden and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.8%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Leyden and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%	20%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Mentz and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	14%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	0.1%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Mentz and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY	$59,474±$21kHighest 31% below NY
	Leyden and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY	$173,100±$23kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY	$721±$37Lowest 56% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,901Highest 56% below NY	$2,412Lowest 63% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1%	53.4%±15.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Mentz and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20%Highest NY: 14%	13.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2% NY: 54.3%	74.2% NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 13% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Leyden and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
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.