Compare towns
Thompson vs Auburn vs Forestburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Forestburgh has the most people working from home (23%).
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.
| Measure | Thompson | Auburn | Forestburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,714 |
26,285Highest |
789Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.9Lowest about the NY average |
41.1±1.1 3% above NY |
52.9±4Highest 33% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.7 NY: 20.5% |
8.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Thompson and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
32.8%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% NY: 40.2% |
21%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
47%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.7%±0.7 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Thompson and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,021±$10k 24% below NY |
$51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY |
$133,438±$42kHighest 55% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$19k 46% below NY |
$152,800±$9kLowest 64% below NY |
$362,700±$46kHighest 14% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$109 31% below NY |
$897±$50Lowest 45% below NY |
$1,767±$198Highest 9% above NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,079 23% below NY |
$3,998Lowest 39% below NY |
$6,534Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.9%±9.2 NY: 52.1% |
55%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
28%±80.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Auburn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest NY: 14% |
19.5% NY: 14% |
3.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
48.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 24% below NY |
20 minLowest 40% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 8%±2.7 NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
23%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #452 of 484 in NY | #374 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | MONTICELLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL | AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
13.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.