What stands out worked out from the figures below

Moira has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Machias has the most people working from home (6.2%).

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	Moira	Machias
People
Population	2,895Highest	2,290Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38±7.6Lowest 5% below NY	49.7±7.6Highest 25% above NY
	Machias and Moira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5.9Highest NY: 20.5%	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Moira and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±6Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Machias and Moira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Moira and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,116±$15kHighest 25% below NY	$59,485±$19kLowest 31% below NY
	Moira and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$92,600±$12kHighest 78% below NY	$89,200±$13kLowest 79% below NY
	Moira and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$746±$190Lowest 54% below NY	$1,018±$112Highest 37% below NY
	Machias and Moira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,695Lowest 74% below NY	$2,089Highest 68% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±32.8Highest NY: 52.1%	21.4%±12.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Moira and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.1% NY: 14%	20.1% NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	1%±1.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Machias and Moira 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	#405 of 484 in NY	—
School district	BRUSHTON-MOIRA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	BRUSHTON-MOIRA HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.