What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($194k 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	Northumberland	Sullivan
People
Population	5,219Lowest	14,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±4Highest 16% above NY	45±2.1Lowest 13% above NY
	Northumberland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.2%±1.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.2%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33%Highest NY: 40.2%	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,178±$15kHighest 6% above NY	$80,948±$6kLowest 6% below NY
	Northumberland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$26kHighest 37% below NY	$194,100±$12kLowest 54% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,213±$561Highest 25% below NY	$863±$135Lowest 47% below NY
	Northumberland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 40% below NY	$4,542Highest 31% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.6%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest NY: 14%	8.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 28% below NY	26 minHighest 21% below NY
Work from home	10.2%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.9%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sullivan and Northumberland 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	—	#87 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
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.