What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northampton has the most affordable homes ($207k 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	Northampton
People
Population	7,034Highest	2,594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±4.1Lowest 17% above NY	51.9±3.8Highest 30% above NY
	Northampton and Pendleton 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%	18.4%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pendleton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.5%±5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Northampton and Pendleton 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%	29.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Pendleton and Northampton 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	$72,065±$13kLowest 16% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,300±$39kHighest 31% below NY	$207,000±$34kLowest 51% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$119Highest 39% below NY	$911±$83Lowest 44% below NY
	Pendleton and Northampton 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	$3,430Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	13.3%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Northampton 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%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	5.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 484 in NY	#373 of 484 in NY
School district	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL	NORTHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.5Highest	9.2Lowest
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.