What stands out worked out from the figures below

Romulus has the most people working from home (9.6%).

Smithville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.6%).

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	Romulus	Smithville
People
Population	3,110Highest	1,525Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-25.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.8±2.7Lowest 8% below NY	43.1±3.2Highest 8% above NY
Kids under 18	15.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.6%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Smithville and Romulus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.1%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Smithville and Romulus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	19.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	5.8%±5.8Highest NY: 7%
	Smithville and Romulus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,447±$6kLowest 19% below NY	$70,433±$7kHighest 18% below NY
	Smithville and Romulus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$178,800±$47kHighest 58% below NY	$173,200±$42kLowest 59% below NY
	Romulus and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$93Highest 35% below NY	$889±$186Lowest 45% below NY
	Romulus and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,688Lowest 59% below NY	$4,254Highest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±19.8Highest NY: 52.1%	54.9%±31.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Romulus and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest NY: 14%	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%	4.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Romulus and Smithville 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	#449 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.