What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perinton has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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	Perinton	Bethlehem
People
Population	46,961Highest	35,139Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.9±1.4Highest 15% above NY	45.3±2Lowest 14% above NY
	Perinton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.9%±1.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bethlehem and Perinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9%	22.2%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Perinton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	64.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
	Bethlehem and Perinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,093±$5kLowest 30% above NY	$123,893±$9kHighest 44% above NY
	Bethlehem and Perinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$310,200±$9kLowest 27% below NY	$370,400±$10kHighest 13% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,349±$87Lowest 17% below NY	$1,721±$81Highest 6% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,684Lowest 17% above NY	$7,842Highest 19% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±8.9Highest NY: 52.1%	40%±7.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Perinton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest NY: 14%	5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	73%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	21.2%±1.8Highest NY: 14.9%	19.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Perinton and Bethlehem 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	#136 of 484 in NY	#34 of 484 in NY
School district	FAIRPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	FAIRPORT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	13.0Highest
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.