What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saranac has the most kids (29.1% under 18).

Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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	Plattsburgh
People
Population	3,822Lowest	11,830Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.3±3.9Lowest about the NY average	45.2±1.9Highest 14% above NY
Kids under 18	29.1%±6Highest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.6%±5.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Plattsburgh and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Saranac and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,500±$16kHighest 4% below NY	$71,546±$5kLowest 17% below NY
	Saranac and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,200±$46kLowest 59% below NY	$179,900±$11kHighest 58% below NY
	Plattsburgh and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$156Lowest 40% below NY	$1,053±$86Highest 35% below NY
	Plattsburgh and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,646Lowest 60% below NY	$3,573Highest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	10%±26.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±12.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plattsburgh and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest NY: 14%	10.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 32% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	5%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Plattsburgh and Saranac 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	#172 of 484 in NY	#153 of 484 in NY
School district	SARANAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SARANAC HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.