What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sand Ridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Sand Ridge	Thurman
People
Population	838Lowest	977Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.2±10.3Highest 34% above NY	52.7±3.8Lowest 32% above NY
	Sand Ridge and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.5%±12Highest NY: 20.5%	16.8%±4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sand Ridge and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.5%±6.8Highest NY: 17.9%	28.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sand Ridge and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±4.6Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Sand Ridge and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$34,821±$20kLowest 59% below NY	$58,750±$14kHighest 32% below NY
	Thurman and Sand Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$211,500±$153kHighest 50% below NY	$197,400±$43kLowest 53% below NY
	Sand Ridge and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,175±$599 34% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,280Highest 5% below NY	$2,368Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	23.1%±77.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sand Ridge and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	36.5%Highest NY: 14%	19.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY	1985Lowest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 40% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	2.5%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	19%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9%
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.