What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k median).

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	Berkshire	Russia
People
Population	1,263Lowest	2,272Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±3.2Lowest about the NY average	43.9±2.9Highest 10% above NY
	Russia and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Berkshire and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Russia and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Russia and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,881±$18kLowest 13% below NY	$86,116±$17kHighest about the NY average
	Russia and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,900±$20kLowest 67% below NY	$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,368±$126Highest 16% below NY	$888±$325Lowest 45% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,573Highest 46% below NY	$2,939Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.2%±35.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	31.1%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Russia and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Russia and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.6
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.