What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($194k median).

Northumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).

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	Sullivan	Northumberland
People
Population	14,690Highest	5,219Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45±2.1Lowest 13% above NY	46.3±4Highest 16% above NY
	Northumberland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.9Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9%	18.9%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,948±$6kLowest 6% below NY	$91,178±$15kHighest 6% above NY
	Northumberland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$194,100±$12kLowest 54% below NY	$267,300±$26kHighest 37% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$135Lowest 47% below NY	$1,213±$561Highest 25% below NY
	Northumberland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,542Highest 31% below NY	$3,938Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1%	41.4%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NY: 14%	7.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	24 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	11.9%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sullivan and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#87 of 484 in NY	—
School district	CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
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.