What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saranac Lake has the most expensive homes ($200k median).

Owego has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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	Saranac Lake	Owego
People
Population	4,965Highest	3,912Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±5.4Highest about the NY average	37±5.8Lowest 7% below NY
	Saranac Lake and Owego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.8%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	21.4%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	16.1%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Saranac Lake and Owego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	38.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	4%±2.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Saranac Lake and Owego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,967±$7kHighest 28% below NY	$60,139±$17kLowest 30% below NY
	Saranac Lake and Owego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$199,900±$25kHighest 53% below NY	$147,300±$21kLowest 65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$853±$29Lowest 47% below NY	$901±$94Highest 44% below NY
	Owego and Saranac Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,285Highest 35% below NY	$3,803Lowest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±14.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Owego and Saranac Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.7%Lowest NY: 14%	29.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	49.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 52% below NY	20 minHighest 40% below NY
Work from home	8.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.6%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Owego and Saranac Lake 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.