What stands out worked out from the figures below

Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).

Elba has the most affordable homes ($150k 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	Root	Elba
People
Population	1,963Lowest	2,210Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY	33.8±5.6Highest 15% below NY
	Elba and Root 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%	25.3%±4.3Lowest 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%±2.2Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	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	$91,875±$21kHighest 7% above NY
	Elba and Root 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	$149,700±$17kLowest 65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY	$966±$123Highest 40% below NY
	Elba and Root 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	$4,124Highest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.5%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Elba and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest NY: 14%	8.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	23 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±3.4Lowest 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

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.