What stands out worked out from the figures below

Victory has the most affordable homes ($165k median).

Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).

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	Victory	Root
People
Population	1,907Lowest	1,963Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31±5.7Lowest 22% below NY	32.8±6.1Highest 18% below NY
	Root and Victory are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	35.2%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	33.6%±6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Victory and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9%	10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Victory and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7%
	Root and Victory are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,071±$5kLowest 17% below NY	$75,771±$6kHighest 12% below NY
	Root and Victory are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$165,200±$15kLowest 61% below NY	$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY
	Root and Victory are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,066±$164Highest 34% below NY	$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY
	Victory and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,623Lowest 60% below NY	$3,795Highest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±50.8Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Victory and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest NY: 14%	6.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.6%Lowest 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	35 minHighest 7% above NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	3.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
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.