What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k 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	Springwater
People
Population	1,479Lowest	2,503Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.7±4.4Highest 25% above NY	45.6±4.1Lowest 15% above NY
	Sparta and Springwater 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%	16.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	17.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sparta and Springwater 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%	28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%
	Springwater and Sparta 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	$84,670±$16kLowest about the NY average
	Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,800±$27kHighest 60% below NY	$147,500±$17kLowest 65% below NY
	Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$164Highest 30% below NY	$1,063±$438Lowest 34% below NY
	Sparta and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,596Highest 45% below NY	$3,579Lowest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	74.8%±22Highest NY: 52.1%
	Springwater and Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest NY: 14%	8.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	4.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Springwater 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.