What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monsey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+46.4%).

Viola has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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	Monsey	Viola
People
Population	28,160Highest	8,461Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+46.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	+19.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	16.1±0.8Lowest 60% below NY	27.3±14.2Highest 31% below NY
	Viola and Monsey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	54.4%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	39.1%±10.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Monsey and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	7.2%±1Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.2%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	5.8%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Viola and Monsey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,629±$6kLowest 45% below NY	$83,913±$37kHighest about the NY average
	Viola and Monsey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$921,000±$84kLowest 117% above NY	$1,044,300±$86kHighest 146% above NY
	Viola and Monsey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,892±$157Highest 17% above NY	$1,765±$1kLowest 9% above NY
	Monsey and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.1%±8.2Highest NY: 52.1%	67.4%±21.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Monsey and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	49.1%Highest NY: 14%	20.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	34.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	59.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	2003Highest 44 yrs newer than NY	1982Lowest 23 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	29 minHighest 12% below NY
Work from home	10.9%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%
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.