What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

Ballston Spa has the most renters (34.5% rent).

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	Pendleton	Ballston Spa
People
Population	7,034Highest	5,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY	42.7±3.3Lowest 7% above NY
	Pendleton and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	21.5%±6.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pendleton and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	14.1%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	45.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.1%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Ballston Spa and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY	$101,667±$15kLowest 18% above NY
	Pendleton and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,300±$39kLowest 31% below NY	$308,200±$29kHighest 27% below NY
	Ballston Spa and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$119Lowest 39% below NY	$1,122±$238Highest 31% below NY
	Ballston Spa and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,623Highest about the NY average	$5,335Lowest 19% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	37.9%±20.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ballston Spa and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest NY: 14%	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	65.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	18.4%±6.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.6%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ballston Spa and Pendleton 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	#67 of 484 in NY	—
School district	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.5	—
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.