What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bergen has the most affordable homes ($171k median).

Walker Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+48.8%).

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	Bergen	Walker Valley
People
Population	1,360Highest	1,301Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+48.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.9±8.9Highest 5% below NY	34.9±7.8Lowest 12% below NY
	Bergen and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	25%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Walker Valley and Bergen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.3%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%	9.4%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bergen and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±4Lowest NY: 7%
	Bergen and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,906±$22kLowest 3% above NY	$119,625±$40kHighest 39% above NY
	Walker Valley and Bergen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,600±$13kLowest 60% below NY	$331,700±$117kHighest 22% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$933±$91Lowest 42% below NY	$2,620±$2kHighest 62% above NY
	Walker Valley and Bergen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,635Lowest 30% below NY	$7,154Highest 9% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±18.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	79.7%±51.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Walker Valley and Bergen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Highest NY: 14%	11%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 34% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	8.3%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.5%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Walker Valley and Bergen 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	#333 of 484 in NY	—
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.