What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pharsalia has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

Ava has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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	Pharsalia	Ava
People
Population	563Lowest	633Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±11.7Lowest 13% above NY	46.9±8.7Highest 18% above NY
	Ava and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±9.5Highest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	12.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,083±$10kHighest 10% below NY	$71,875±$21kLowest 16% below NY
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$126,400±$21kHighest 70% below NY	$125,700±$36kLowest 70% below NY
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$913±$521Highest 44% below NY	$750±$249Lowest 54% below NY
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,925Highest 71% below NY	$1,793Lowest 73% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.4%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Pharsalia and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%	17.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 9% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ava and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.