What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pomfret has the most people working from home (11.8%).

Portland has the most kids (22.1% under 18).

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	Pomfret	Portland
People
Population	12,795Highest	3,924Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 6% below NY	38.9±3.9Highest about the NY average
	Portland and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	21.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	20.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Pomfret and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	22.5%±3Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,746±$10kLowest 33% below NY	$66,333±$10kHighest 23% below NY
	Portland and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,400±$19kHighest 56% below NY	$139,500±$18kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$43Highest 47% below NY	$753±$94Lowest 54% below NY
	Pomfret and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,459Highest 32% below NY	$3,066Lowest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.1%±10.4Highest NY: 52.1%	35%±19.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Pomfret and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.6%Highest NY: 14%	19.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	77.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	19 minHighest 42% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±4Highest NY: 14.9%	6.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Pomfret and Portland 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	#211 of 484 in NY	#480 of 484 in NY
School district	FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BROCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL	BROCTON MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Highest	8.5Lowest
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.