What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Scipio 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Root	Scipio
People
Population	1,963Highest	1,497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY	36.4±9.3Highest 9% below NY
	Scipio 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%	25.6%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Root and Scipio 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%	17.4%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7%	5%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Scipio 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	$76,618±$7kHighest 11% below NY
	Scipio 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	$192,200±$22kLowest 55% below NY
	Root and Scipio 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	$888±$102Highest 45% below NY
	Scipio 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	$3,840Highest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	15.8%±53.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Scipio 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%	10.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	23 minLowest 31% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	12.3%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Root and Scipio 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.