What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Wheatfield has the most expensive homes ($315k 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	Penfield	Wheatfield
People
Population	38,965Highest	18,549Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	+2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45±1.6Lowest 13% above NY	47.3±2.1Highest 19% above NY
	Wheatfield and Penfield 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%	22.5%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Penfield and Wheatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.1%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wheatfield 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	35.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	5%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Wheatfield and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,154±$5kHighest 39% above NY	$93,682±$6kLowest 9% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,500±$12kLowest 31% below NY	$314,900±$19kHighest 26% below NY
	Wheatfield and Penfield 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	$989±$87Lowest 39% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,223Highest 10% above NY	$5,735Lowest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±6.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.8%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wheatfield 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%	5.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 22 yrs newer than NY	1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 39% below NY	23 minHighest 29% below NY
Work from home	23.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 484 in NY	#9 of 484 in NY
School district	PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.