What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Throop has the most people working from home (7.5%).

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	Throop
People
Population	1,479Lowest	1,651Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.7±4.4Lowest 25% above NY	52.7±3.1Highest 32% above NY
	Throop and Sparta 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%	15.4%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sparta and Throop 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%	23.3%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Throop 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%	28.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Throop 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±$6kLowest about the NY average	$90,268±$15kHighest 5% above NY
	Throop and Sparta 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	$185,900±$20kHighest 56% below NY
	Throop and Sparta 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	$1,099±$88Lowest 32% below NY
	Sparta and Throop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,596Lowest 45% below NY	$4,261Highest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±69.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sparta and Throop 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%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	93.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	26 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	4.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.5%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Throop 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.