What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

Fort Plain has the oldest population (median age 43.2).

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	Minden	Fort Plain
People
Population	4,181Highest	2,290Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-16.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.4±8.1Lowest 4% below NY	43.2±10Highest 9% above NY
	Fort Plain and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Minden and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Fort Plain and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	20.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Minden and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$44,195±$10kHighest 49% below NY	$34,738±$22kLowest 60% below NY
	Minden and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$90,500±$9kHighest 79% below NY	$80,900±$16kLowest 81% below NY
	Minden and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$718±$99Highest 56% below NY	$709±$101Lowest 56% below NY
	Minden and Fort Plain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,180Highest 52% below NY	$2,938Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.7%±11.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Fort Plain and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18%Lowest NY: 14%	18.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 14% below NY	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	5.5%±4Highest NY: 14.9%	3.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Minden and Fort Plain 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	#320 of 484 in NY	—
School district	FORT PLAIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	FORT PLAIN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1	—
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.