What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the most people working from home (10.5%).

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	Smithfield
People
Population	1,753Highest	1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY	44.2±9.9Highest 11% above NY
	Smithfield and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%	19.8%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Mentz and Smithfield 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%	17.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Mentz and Smithfield 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%	13.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	2.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Mentz and Smithfield 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	$81,250±$11kHighest 5% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY	$161,500±$22kHighest 62% below NY
	Smithfield and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,045±$130 36% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,901Lowest 56% below NY	$4,329Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1%	33.3%±94.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Mentz and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20%Highest NY: 14%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 13% below NY	22 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±8.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Smithfield 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	MORRISVILLE-EATON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	MORRISVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	9.8Lowest
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.