What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portage has the most expensive homes ($146k median).

Newark Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.9%).

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	Portage	Newark Valley
People
Population	961Lowest	1,051Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.9±4.7Lowest 7% below NY	38.1±3.2Highest 4% below NY
	Newark Valley and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	32.3%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Newark Valley and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.6%±5.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Newark Valley and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Newark Valley and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,556±$27kLowest 18% below NY	$71,369±$13kHighest 17% below NY
	Newark Valley and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$145,600±$43kHighest 66% below NY	$120,200±$9kLowest 72% below NY
	Portage and Newark Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$313Highest 36% below NY	$822±$118Lowest 49% below NY
	Portage and Newark Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,395Lowest 48% below NY	$3,887Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±42.4Highest NY: 52.1%	50.7%±18.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Portage and Newark Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest NY: 14%	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 16% above NY	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	4.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Newark Valley and Portage 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	—	#361 of 484 in NY
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.