What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oneida has the most affordable homes ($160k median).

Colden has the most expensive homes ($303k 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	Oneida	Colden
People
Population	10,171Highest	3,145Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47±2.4Lowest 18% above NY	49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY
	Colden and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Colden and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Colden and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	41%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7%
	Colden and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,597±$6kLowest 28% below NY	$97,935±$15kHighest 14% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,100±$9kLowest 62% below NY	$302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$903±$77Lowest 44% below NY	$943±$142Highest 42% below NY
	Colden and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,778Lowest 43% below NY	$4,752Highest 28% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1%
	Colden and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NY: 14%	10%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 13 yrs older than NY	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 41% below NY	26 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Colden and Oneida 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	#106 of 484 in NY	#346 of 484 in NY
School district	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.