What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k 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	Milton	Hamlin
People
Population	19,036Highest	8,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.2±2.3Highest 6% above NY	41.9±3.7Lowest 5% above NY
	Milton and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%	20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Milton and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hamlin and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Milton and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,322±$9kHighest 17% above NY	$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Milton and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,500±$19kHighest 26% below NY	$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,423±$89Highest 12% below NY	$1,062±$137Lowest 34% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,385Highest 33% below NY	$4,343Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.8%±10.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hamlin and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%	11.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 23% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	15.5%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Milton and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#330 of 484 in NY	—
School district	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.