What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

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	Minerva	Windham
People
Population	836Lowest	1,432Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.2±5.7Lowest 41% above NY	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
	Windham and Minerva 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%	11.1%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Windham 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%	31.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Minerva and Windham 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%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham and Minerva 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	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY
	Windham 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	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Lowest 52% below NY	$850±$295Highest 48% below NY
	Windham and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY	$3,363Highest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Windham 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%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Windham 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.