What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).

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

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	Springwater	Sparta
People
Population	2,503Highest	1,479Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.6±4.1Lowest 15% above NY	49.7±4.4Highest 25% 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	16.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.9%±3.1Highest 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+	17.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±2.8Highest 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+	28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.8Lowest 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	$84,670±$16kLowest about the NY average	$87,663±$6kHighest 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	$147,500±$17kLowest 65% below NY	$168,800±$27kHighest 60% 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	$1,063±$438Lowest 34% below NY	$1,139±$164Highest 30% 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	$3,579Lowest 46% below NY	$3,596Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.8%±22Highest NY: 52.1%	66.7%±100Lowest 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	8.7%Lowest NY: 14%	8.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	96.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	30 minLowest 8% below NY
Work from home	5.1%±2.4Highest NY: 14.9%	4.6%±2.3Lowest 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.