What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rensselaerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Broome has the most affordable homes ($179k 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	Rensselaerville	Broome
People
Population	1,901Highest	773Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54±3.3Lowest 36% above NY	55.2±3.7Highest 39% above NY
	Broome and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	7.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%	27%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	7.1%±6.3Highest NY: 7%
	Broome and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,324±$26kHighest 5% above NY	$78,490±$12kLowest 9% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,800±$36kHighest 39% below NY	$179,200±$63kLowest 58% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY	$1,231±$254Lowest 24% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,247Highest 20% below NY	$4,096Lowest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±61.5Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.8%Lowest NY: 14%	6.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 16% above NY	36 minLowest 11% above NY
Work from home	13.8%±6.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.6%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Broome and Rensselaerville 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.