What stands out worked out from the figures below

Valatie has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.9%).

St. Armand has the most affordable homes ($241k 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	Valatie	St. Armand
People
Population	1,796Highest	1,555Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50±4.9Lowest 26% above NY	50.7±5.7Highest 27% above NY
	St. Armand and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.6%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	St. Armand and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%	25.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Valatie and St. Armand are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	40.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	St. Armand and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,461±$20kHighest 17% above NY	$81,221±$12kLowest 6% below NY
	Valatie and St. Armand are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$19kHighest 23% below NY	$241,200±$36kLowest 43% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$842±$105Lowest 48% below NY	$867±$466Highest 47% below NY
	St. Armand and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,497Highest 16% below NY	$3,789Lowest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±10.7Highest NY: 52.1%	4.3%±18.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%	6.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 25% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	9.7%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.8%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	St. Armand and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	SARANAC LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.