What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Carlton has the highest household income ($82k).

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	Sterling	Carlton
People
Population	3,192Highest	2,808Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.6±3.5Highest 30% above NY	51.1±2.6Lowest 28% above NY
	Sterling and Carlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	14%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sterling and Carlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%	20.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sterling and Carlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±3Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±3.7Highest NY: 7%
	Carlton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,750±$9kLowest 31% below NY	$81,678±$12kHighest 5% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,200±$41kLowest 67% below NY	$158,800±$13kHighest 63% below NY
	Carlton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$681±$411Lowest 58% below NY	$804±$243Highest 50% below NY
	Carlton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,568Lowest 61% below NY	$3,646Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1%	21.7%±30.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sterling and Carlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest NY: 14%	11.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 6 yrs older than NY	1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	30 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±7Highest NY: 14.9%	10%±6.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sterling and Carlton 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.