What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pomfret has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Pomfret
People
Population	14,237Highest	12,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.1±3.7Highest 6% above NY	37.5±4Lowest 6% below NY
	Van Buren and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	14.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Van Buren and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pomfret and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	41.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	22.5%±3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,779±$8kHighest 14% below NY	$57,746±$10kLowest 33% below NY
	Van Buren and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$169,600±$5kLowest 60% below NY	$185,400±$19kHighest 56% below NY
	Pomfret and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,269±$87Highest 22% below NY	$866±$43Lowest 47% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,171Lowest 37% below NY	$4,459Highest 32% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.1%±10.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pomfret and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%	22.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	63.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 23% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Van Buren and Pomfret 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	#211 of 484 in NY
School district	BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.0
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.