What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k median).

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Russia	Union
People
Population	2,272Lowest	55,078Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±2.9Highest 10% above NY	41.4±1.2Lowest 4% above NY
	Russia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	19%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Russia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.4%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Union and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	6.1%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,116±$17kHighest about the NY average	$61,713±$2kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY	$149,900±$5kLowest 65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$325Lowest 45% below NY	$936±$37Highest 42% below NY
	Union and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,939Lowest 55% below NY	$4,200Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.1%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	49.2%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%	16.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	58.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest same as NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	18 minLowest 46% below NY
Work from home	6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±1.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Union and Russia 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	—	#199 of 484 in NY
School district	POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.4Highest
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.