What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rapids has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

Ancram has the most expensive homes ($449k median).

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	Rapids	Ancram
People
Population	1,655Highest	1,389Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44±7.7Lowest 11% above NY	46.8±2.3Highest 18% above NY
	Ancram and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5%	22.4%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Rapids and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.4%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ancram and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	41.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2Lowest NY: 7%	1.4%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Ancram and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY	$99,773±$22kLowest 16% above NY
	Rapids and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,700±$44kLowest 30% below NY	$449,000±$38kHighest 6% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,131±$148 30% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,522Highest about the NY average	$4,947Lowest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	25%±44.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ancram and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest NY: 14%	9.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1981Lowest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	35 minHighest 6% above NY
Work from home	18.1%±14.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	20.1%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ancram and Rapids 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.