What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the most people working from home (19.4%).

Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k 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	Vernon	Massena
People
Population	1,238Lowest	10,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.1±6.5Highest 18% above NY	42.6±4.7Lowest 7% above NY
	Vernon and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.4%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Massena and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.4%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Massena and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±5.1Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Vernon and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,988±$15kHighest 26% below NY	$51,458±$7kLowest 40% below NY
	Vernon and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,300±$23kHighest 57% below NY	$94,400±$15kLowest 78% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$921±$54Highest 43% below NY	$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,393Highest 48% below NY	$3,218Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±19Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Massena and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Lowest NY: 14%	24.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY	1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 32% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	19.4%±18.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Vernon and Massena 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	#368 of 484 in NY	—
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.