What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

Fayette has the most affordable homes ($174k 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	Paris	Fayette
People
Population	4,261Highest	3,607Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.7±4Lowest 5% below NY	39.4±5.1Highest about the NY average
	Fayette and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	24.2%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.7%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Fayette and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,491±$14kHighest 9% above NY	$77,875±$25kLowest 9% below NY
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,800±$21kHighest 42% below NY	$173,900±$29kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$903±$447Lowest 44% below NY	$1,215±$532Highest 25% below NY
	Fayette and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,104Highest 22% below NY	$3,814Lowest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.5%±27.5Highest NY: 52.1%	35.9%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Paris and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%	9.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	21 minHighest 35% below NY
Work from home	15%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Paris and Fayette 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	#140 of 484 in NY	—
School district	SAUQUOIT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SAUQUOIT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8	—
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.