What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

Menands has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Webster	Menands
People
Population	5,718Highest	4,505Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+14.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.4±2.8Highest 4% below NY	33±7.4Lowest 17% below NY
	Webster and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.8%±7.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	14.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Webster and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%	8.8%±4.7Highest NY: 7%
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,495±$9kLowest 18% below NY	$80,583±$11kHighest 6% below NY
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,400±$19kLowest 48% below NY	$271,300±$64kHighest 36% below NY
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,239±$221Lowest 24% below NY	$1,414±$50Highest 13% below NY
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,547Lowest 16% below NY	$5,866Highest 11% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±9.7Highest NY: 52.1%	34.6%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Webster and Menands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest NY: 14%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	36%Highest NY: 54.3%	31.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 34% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±9.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	18%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Menands and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.