What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Groton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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	Pendleton	Groton
People
Population	7,034Highest	5,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY	43±7.9Lowest 8% above NY
	Pendleton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Groton and Pendleton 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%	19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Pendleton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Pendleton and Groton 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	$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,300±$39kHighest 31% below NY	$163,900±$9kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$119Lowest 39% below NY	$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY
	Groton 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	$3,955Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Groton 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%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	75%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 31% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	11.2%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Pendleton and Groton 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	#322 of 484 in NY
School district	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL	GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.5Highest	11.0Lowest
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.