What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelliston has the most affordable homes ($74k median).

Sylvan Beach has the most expensive homes ($180k median).

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	Nelliston	Sylvan Beach
People
Population	707Lowest	881Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	60.6±11.9Highest 52% above NY	55.4±7.9Lowest 39% above NY
	Nelliston and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.9%±7.3Highest NY: 20.5%	8.5%±6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Nelliston and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±7.9Highest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Nelliston and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Lowest NY: 7%	2.5%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Sylvan Beach and Nelliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$39,219±$29kLowest 54% below NY	$57,000±$27kHighest 34% below NY
	Sylvan Beach and Nelliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$74,200±$26kLowest 82% below NY	$180,100±$24kHighest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$628±$18Lowest 61% below NY	$1,008±$181Highest 38% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,400Lowest 64% below NY	$4,211Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±51.1Highest NY: 52.1%	37.8%±31.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Nelliston and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	26.7%Highest NY: 14%	11.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	69.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 22% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.6%±9.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sylvan Beach and Nelliston 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.