What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thurston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.2%).

Preston has the most people working from home (11.1%).

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	Thurston	Preston
People
Population	1,097Highest	856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.7±3.7Highest 25% above NY	49.2±8.2Lowest 24% above NY
	Thurston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%	13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Thurston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.8%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Preston and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Thurston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,409±$14kLowest 15% below NY	$85,625±$11kHighest about the NY average
	Preston and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$138,800±$8kHighest 67% below NY	$122,300±$48kLowest 71% below NY
	Thurston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$264Lowest 31% below NY	$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY
	Preston and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,406Highest 48% below NY	$2,800Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.5%±75.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Preston and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NY: 14%	10.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 20% below NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	3.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±10.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Preston and Thurston 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.