What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilton has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Ballston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21%).

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	Wilton	Ballston
People
Population	17,456Highest	12,433Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+21%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.3±3.4Lowest 4% above NY	42.6±2.1Highest 7% above NY
	Ballston and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ballston and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9%	18.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Wilton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	50.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Wilton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,854±$11kLowest 15% above NY	$116,161±$14kHighest 35% above NY
	Ballston and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$402,000±$31kHighest 5% below NY	$373,200±$16kLowest 12% below NY
	Wilton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,576±$340Lowest about the NY average	$1,688±$220Highest 4% above NY
	Ballston and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,482Lowest 32% below NY	$6,103Highest 7% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±12Highest NY: 52.1%	34.2%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wilton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NY: 14%	4.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	77.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1999Highest 40 yrs newer than NY	1987Lowest 28 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	19.1%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.3%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ballston and Wilton 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	#143 of 484 in NY	#33 of 484 in NY
School district	SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY SD · SOUTH GLENS FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	BALLSTON SPA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
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.