What stands out worked out from the figures below

Van Buren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Clay has the highest household income ($91k).

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	Van Buren	Clay
People
Population	14,237Lowest	59,995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest NY: +4.2%	+4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.1±3.7Highest 6% above NY	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average
	Van Buren and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clay and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Van Buren and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	38.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7%
	Clay and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,779±$8kLowest 14% below NY	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$169,600±$5kLowest 60% below NY	$205,900±$6kHighest 51% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,269±$87Highest 22% below NY	$1,240±$40Lowest 24% below NY
	Van Buren and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,171Lowest 37% below NY	$5,087Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%	46.6%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Van Buren and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest NY: 14%	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	71.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 23% below NY	21 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Van Buren and Clay 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	#386 of 484 in NY	#249 of 484 in NY
School district	BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.0
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.