What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scio has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Ephratah has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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	Scio	Ephratah
People
Population	1,495Lowest	1,509Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.4±10.3Lowest 19% above NY	48.4±6.7Highest 22% above NY
	Ephratah and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.5%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ephratah and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	21.9%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Scio and Ephratah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Ephratah and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,426±$11kLowest 27% below NY	$80,625±$23kHighest 6% below NY
	Ephratah and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,100±$27kHighest 72% below NY	$111,500±$27kLowest 74% below NY
	Scio and Ephratah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$158Lowest 47% below NY	$1,082±$263Highest 33% below NY
	Ephratah and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,227Highest 51% below NY	$2,668Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±34.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	76.2%±39.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ephratah and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest NY: 14%	11.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	32 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	6.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.9%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ephratah and Scio 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.