What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).

Kirkwood has the most people working from home (4.7%).

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	Barton	Kirkwood
People
Population	8,461Highest	5,387Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±3.9Highest 16% above NY	44.3±3.8Lowest 11% above NY
	Barton and Kirkwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Kirkwood and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.3%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Kirkwood and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
	Kirkwood and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,799±$9kLowest 36% below NY	$58,588±$5kHighest 32% below NY
	Kirkwood and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,000±$11kLowest 67% below NY	$157,000±$22kHighest 63% below NY
	Kirkwood and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$956±$109Highest 41% below NY	$883±$172Lowest 46% below NY
	Barton and Kirkwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,310Highest 50% below NY	$3,262Lowest 50% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%	60.5%±21.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Barton and Kirkwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Lowest NY: 14%	15.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 38% below NY	18 minLowest 46% below NY
Work from home	1.7%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.7%±2.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Kirkwood and Barton 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	#251 of 484 in NY	#155 of 484 in NY
School district	WAVERLY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WINDSOR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	WAVERLY HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6	—
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.