What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the highest household income ($86k).

McDonough has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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	Preston	McDonough
People
Population	856Lowest	946Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-10%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.2±8.2Lowest 24% above NY	53.5±1.7Highest 34% above NY
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	14.1%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	13%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±3.6Highest NY: 7%
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,625±$11kHighest about the NY average	$68,266±$11kLowest 21% below NY
	Preston and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$122,300±$48kHighest 71% below NY	$113,100±$40kLowest 73% below NY
	Preston and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY	$950±$392Lowest 41% below NY
	Preston and McDonough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,800Highest 57% below NY	$2,542Lowest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.5%±75.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	81.3%±23.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	McDonough and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%	14.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±10.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	31.5%±23.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	McDonough and Preston 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.