What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

Schroon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

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	Minerva	Schroon
People
Population	836Lowest	1,897Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+13.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY	54±9.9Lowest 36% above NY
	Minerva and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Schroon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	30.6%±4.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Minerva and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Minerva and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$69,955±$10kHighest 19% below NY
	Schroon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kLowest 59% below NY	$272,800±$21kHighest 36% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY	$516±$33Lowest 68% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY	$3,291Highest 50% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±36.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Schroon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NY: 14%	7.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	17 minLowest 48% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	33.7%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Schroon and Minerva 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.