What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Harmony has the most expensive homes ($204k median).

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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 Harmony	Busti
People
Population	1,881Lowest	7,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.2±6Highest 26% above NY	46.6±4.8Lowest 17% above NY
	North Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	19.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	North Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9%	23.8%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	North Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	29.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Busti and North Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,250±$8kHighest 17% below NY	$67,292±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	North Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$204,000±$22kHighest 52% below NY	$164,600±$12kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$793±$79Lowest 51% below NY	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,899Lowest 56% below NY	$3,876Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.6%±18.7Highest NY: 52.1%	55.5%±13.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	North Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%	14.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 37% below NY	21 minHighest 35% below NY
Work from home	6%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Busti and North Harmony 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.