What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scriba has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).

Johnstown has the most renters (39.7% rent).

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	Scriba	Johnstown
People
Population	6,603Lowest	8,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±3.1Highest 16% above NY	44±4.8Lowest 11% above NY
	Scriba and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%	19.3%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Scriba and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Johnstown and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Johnstown and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,036±$17kHighest 7% above NY	$63,763±$9kLowest 26% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,700±$10kHighest 63% below NY	$157,800±$11kLowest 63% below NY
	Scriba and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$980±$67Highest 40% below NY	$914±$43Lowest 44% below NY
	Scriba and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,649Highest 45% below NY	$3,613Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±13.4Highest NY: 52.1%	43.2%±12Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Scriba and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NY: 14%	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	60.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 34% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	6.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Johnstown and Scriba 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	—	#403 of 484 in NY
School district	—	JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
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.