What stands out worked out from the figures below

Van Etten has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

Elbridge has the shortest commute (20 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 Etten	Elbridge
People
Population	1,328Highest	1,224Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.7±4.1Highest 5% above NY	41.1±16.5Lowest 3% above NY
	Van Etten and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	23.5%±10Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Van Etten and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.8%±8.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Elbridge and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Van Etten and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,620±$6kLowest 28% below NY	$64,462±$12kHighest 25% below NY
	Elbridge and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$146,500±$18kLowest 65% below NY	$160,200±$50kHighest 62% below NY
	Elbridge and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,071±$183Highest 34% below NY	$1,034±$90Lowest 36% below NY
	Van Etten and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,010Lowest 54% below NY	$4,370Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±29.5Highest NY: 52.1%	20.7%±21.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Van Etten and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest NY: 14%	7.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 4% above NY	20 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%	8.7%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Van Etten and Elbridge 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	—	#113 of 484 in NY
School district	SPENCER-VAN ETTEN 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.