What stands out worked out from the figures below

Onondaga has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

LaFayette has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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	Onondaga	LaFayette
People
Population	22,573Highest	4,878Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.4±2.7Lowest 14% above NY	45.5±5.8Highest 14% above NY
	LaFayette and Onondaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±2Highest NY: 20.5%	17%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Onondaga and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%	21%±5.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Onondaga and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	43.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	6.3%±3Lowest NY: 7%
	Onondaga and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,448±$5kLowest 21% above NY	$113,750±$21kHighest 32% above NY
	LaFayette and Onondaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$246,200±$15kHighest 42% below NY	$228,600±$16kLowest 46% below NY
	Onondaga and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$128Highest 18% below NY	$1,298±$123Lowest 20% below NY
	Onondaga and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,480Highest 17% below NY	$4,836Lowest 27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±11.5Highest NY: 52.1%	13.5%±17.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest NY: 14%	4.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.9%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	LaFayette and Onondaga 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	#122 of 484 in NY	#331 of 484 in NY
School district	WESTHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · ONONDAGA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LAFAYETTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	WESTHILL HIGH SCHOOL	LA FAYETTE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.9Lowest
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.