What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ontario has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Ontario
People
Population	14,690Highest	10,491Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45±2.1Lowest 13% above NY	45.2±2.7Highest 14% above NY
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.9%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ontario and Sullivan 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%	32.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	4.4%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Sullivan and Ontario 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	$82,608±$7kHighest 4% below NY
	Ontario 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	$233,900±$15kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$135Lowest 47% below NY	$882±$172Highest 46% below NY
	Ontario and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,542Lowest 31% below NY	$5,251Highest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1%	49%±18.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sullivan and Ontario 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%	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	23 minLowest 29% below NY
Work from home	11.9%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sullivan and Ontario 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	#48 of 484 in NY
School district	CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WAYNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL	WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.4Lowest
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.