What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffern has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

Montebello has the most expensive homes ($847k 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	Suffern	Montebello
People
Population	11,441Highest	4,673Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±3.5Highest about the NY average	34±2.6Lowest 15% below NY
Kids under 18	23.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	33.6%±7.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Montebello and Suffern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	12%±3.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	57.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	5.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Suffern and Montebello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,607±$14kLowest 22% above NY	$133,750±$44kHighest 56% above NY
	Montebello and Suffern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,100±$30kLowest 10% below NY	$847,100±$150kHighest 100% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,091±$179Lowest 29% above NY	$2,380±$1kHighest 47% above NY
	Montebello and Suffern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,692Lowest 32% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±11.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.9%±20.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Montebello and Suffern are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Lowest NY: 14%	11.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 12% below NY	34 minHighest 3% above NY
Work from home	12.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.1%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Montebello and Suffern 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.