What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plattsburgh has the highest household income ($72k).

Tonawanda has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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	Plattsburgh	Tonawanda
People
Population	11,830Lowest	15,030Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	0%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.2±1.9Highest 14% above NY	43.5±2.8Lowest 9% above NY
	Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±2.5Highest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%	20.6%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	5.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Tonawanda and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,546±$5kHighest 17% below NY	$58,326±$8kLowest 32% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,900±$11kHighest 58% below NY	$173,600±$7kLowest 59% below NY
	Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,053±$86Highest 35% below NY	$835±$176Lowest 48% below NY
	Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,573Lowest 46% below NY	$4,089Highest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.9%±9.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Tonawanda and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest NY: 14%	13.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	23 minHighest 30% below NY
Work from home	7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Tonawanda and Plattsburgh 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	#153 of 484 in NY	#432 of 484 in NY
School district	BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	TONAWANDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	TONAWANDA MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.