Compare towns
Penfield vs Irondequoit vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Penfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Irondequoit has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Brighton has the most renters (43.6% 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.
| Measure | Penfield | Irondequoit | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,965 |
50,657Highest |
36,834Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45±1.6Highest 13% above NY |
43.3±1.7 9% above NY |
40.1±1.2Lowest about the NY average |
| Penfield and Irondequoit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Penfield and Irondequoit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±1.5 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Irondequoit and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% NY: 40.2% |
40.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
68.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3.8%±0.6 NY: 7% |
9.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,154±$5kHighest 39% above NY |
$79,162±$3kLowest 8% below NY |
$85,467±$10k about the NY average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,500±$12kHighest 31% below NY |
$182,500±$3kLowest 57% below NY |
$282,100±$11k 33% below NY |
| Penfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$120Highest 9% below NY |
$1,159±$42Lowest 29% below NY |
$1,350±$38 17% below NY |
| Penfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,223 10% above NY |
$5,774Lowest 12% below NY |
$7,428Highest 13% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±6.7 NY: 52.1% |
57.5%±8.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
49.6%±6.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Irondequoit and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.2%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
78.8% NY: 54.3% |
56.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 39% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
14.5%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
21.6%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Penfield and Brighton 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 | #21 of 484 in NY | #127 of 484 in NY | #22 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | EAST IRONDEQUOIT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST IRONDEQUOIT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BRIGHTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | IRONDEQUOIT HIGH SCHOOL | BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.