What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ontario has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Ontario	Sullivan
People
Population	10,491Lowest	14,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.2±2.7Highest 14% above NY	45±2.1Lowest 13% above NY
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%	19.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	21.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Sullivan and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,608±$7kHighest 4% below NY	$80,948±$6kLowest 6% below NY
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$233,900±$15kHighest 45% below NY	$194,100±$12kLowest 54% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$882±$172Highest 46% below NY	$863±$135Lowest 47% below NY
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,251Highest 20% below NY	$4,542Lowest 31% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±18.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.6%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sullivan and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%	8.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	26 minHighest 21% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.9%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sullivan and Ontario 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	#48 of 484 in NY	#87 of 484 in NY
School district	WAYNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.3Highest
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.