What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plattsburgh has the most affordable homes ($180k 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	Parma	Plattsburgh
People
Population	16,111Highest	11,830Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	+0.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average	45.2±1.9Highest 14% above NY
	Plattsburgh 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%	19.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Parma and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY	$71,546±$5kLowest 17% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY	$179,900±$11kLowest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY	$1,053±$86Lowest 35% below NY
	Parma and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,549Highest 16% below NY	$3,573Lowest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Parma and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%	10.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 32% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	10.3%±2.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Parma and Plattsburgh 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	#153 of 484 in NY
School district	HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEEKMANTOWN 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.