What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most homeowners (87.6%).

Wilna has the most renters (48.2% rent).

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	Barre	Wilna
People
Population	1,910Lowest	5,677Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.2±6.7Highest 14% above NY	29.1±5.2Lowest 27% below NY
Kids under 18	24.4%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	31.3%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wilna and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	10.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13%Lowest NY: 40.2%	17.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,906±$14kHighest 14% below NY	$60,213±$11kLowest 30% below NY
	Barre and Wilna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$135,900±$28kLowest 68% below NY	$137,400±$19kHighest 68% below NY
	Wilna and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,158±$208Highest 29% below NY	$946±$47Lowest 42% below NY
	Barre and Wilna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,466Highest 47% below NY	$2,747Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1%	34.6%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Barre and Wilna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.4%Highest NY: 14%	19.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	51.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	6.5%±2.8Highest NY: 14.9%	4.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Barre and Wilna 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	—	#482 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.