What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ridgeway has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).

Groton has the most people working from home (11.2%).

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	Ridgeway	Groton
People
Population	6,514Highest	5,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.3±3Lowest 6% above NY	43±7.9Highest 8% above NY
	Groton and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Groton and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ridgeway and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Groton and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,516±$8kHighest 19% below NY	$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY
	Ridgeway and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$149,900±$15kLowest 65% below NY	$163,900±$9kHighest 61% below NY
	Groton and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$934±$49Lowest 42% below NY	$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY
	Groton and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,109Highest 38% below NY	$3,955Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.4%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Groton and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	75%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 24% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Groton and Ridgeway 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	—	#322 of 484 in NY
School district	—	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
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.