What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sparta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).

Niles has the most expensive homes ($197k median).

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	Sparta	Niles
People
Population	1,479Highest	1,147Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.7±4.4Highest 25% above NY	46.9±9.1Lowest 18% above NY
	Sparta and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%	15.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sparta and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.8%±1.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Niles and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	0.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Sparta and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,663±$6kHighest about the NY average	$80,588±$20kLowest 6% below NY
	Sparta and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,800±$27kLowest 60% below NY	$197,100±$38kHighest 53% below NY
	Niles and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$164 30% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,596Lowest 45% below NY	$3,650Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	62.5%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sparta and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest NY: 14%	10.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	94.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	4.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Niles and Sparta 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.