Compare towns
Root vs Charleston vs Elba
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Elba has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.
| Measure | Root | Charleston | Elba |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,963 |
1,394Lowest |
2,210Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.3% NY: +4.2% |
-8.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY |
39.3±5Highest about the NY average |
33.8±5.6 15% below NY |
| Charleston and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5% |
23.1%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.3%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Root and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.4%±2.2 NY: 17.9% |
10.3%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,771±$6kLowest 12% below NY |
$91,417±$9k 6% above NY |
$91,875±$21kHighest 7% above NY |
| Elba and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY |
$184,200±$23k 57% below NY |
$149,700±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
| Root and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $742±$310Lowest 54% below NY |
$1,250±$360Highest 23% below NY |
$966±$123 40% below NY |
| Charleston and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,795Lowest 42% below NY |
$4,415Highest 33% below NY |
$4,124 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.2%±49.8 NY: 52.1% |
48.5%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Elba and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NY: 14% |
4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
34 minHighest 5% above NY |
23 minLowest 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Root and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | ELBA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | ELBA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.