What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Milton has the most people working from home (15.5%).

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	Parma	Milton
People
Population	16,111Lowest	19,036Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average	42.2±2.3Highest 6% above NY
	Milton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Parma and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	16%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Parma and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Milton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,558±$8kLowest 9% above NY	$100,322±$9kHighest 17% above NY
	Milton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,000±$15kLowest 48% below NY	$311,500±$19kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,216±$111Lowest 25% below NY	$1,423±$89Highest 12% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,549Highest 16% below NY	$4,385Lowest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±10.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Parma and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	25 minHighest 23% below NY
Work from home	10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.5%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Milton and Parma 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	#88 of 484 in NY	#330 of 484 in NY
School district	HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HILTON HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.