What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Saranac Lake has the most homeowners (47.2%).

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	Saranac Lake
People
Population	5,718Highest	4,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.4±2.8Lowest 4% below NY	40.7±5.4Highest about the NY average
	Saranac Lake and Webster 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%	16.6%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Saranac Lake and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.4%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Saranac Lake and Webster 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%	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%	5.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Saranac Lake 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±$9kHighest 18% below NY	$61,967±$7kLowest 28% below NY
	Webster and Saranac Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,400±$19kHighest 48% below NY	$199,900±$25kLowest 53% below NY
	Webster and Saranac Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,239±$221Highest 24% below NY	$853±$29Lowest 47% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,547Highest 16% below NY	$4,285Lowest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±9.7Highest NY: 52.1%	35.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Webster and Saranac Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest NY: 14%	17.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	36%Lowest NY: 54.3%	47.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 34% below NY	16 minLowest 52% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±9.1Highest NY: 14.9%	8.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Webster and Saranac Lake 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.