What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Creek has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Sylvan Beach has the most people working from home (10.1%).

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	North Creek	Sylvan Beach
People
Population	414Lowest	881Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	61.3±6.2Highest 54% above NY	55.4±7.9Lowest 39% above NY
	North Creek and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	1.2%±9.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	8.5%±6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Sylvan Beach and North Creek are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	44.7%±9.9Highest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±11Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%
	North Creek and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,909±$21kLowest 35% below NY	$57,000±$27kHighest 34% below NY
	Sylvan Beach and North Creek are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,900±$57kHighest 55% below NY	$180,100±$24kLowest 58% below NY
	North Creek and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$905±$404Lowest 44% below NY	$1,008±$181Highest 38% below NY
	Sylvan Beach and North Creek are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,693Lowest 59% below NY	$4,211Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±34.9Highest NY: 52.1%	37.8%±31.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	North Creek and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	11.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	69.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 40% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	0%±7.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sylvan Beach and North Creek 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.