What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most expensive homes ($215k median).

Bethany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Berlin	Bethany
People
Population	1,960Highest	1,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.3±5.3Highest 4% above NY	38.8±3.9Lowest about the NY average
	Berlin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.9%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bethany and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%	15.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Berlin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest NY: 7%	4.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Berlin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,313±$25kHighest 7% below NY	$75,859±$16kLowest 12% below NY
	Berlin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$214,600±$22kHighest 49% below NY	$170,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,160±$309Highest 28% below NY	$887±$196Lowest 45% below NY
	Berlin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,518Lowest 47% below NY	$4,205Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.7%±17.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.3%±28.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Bethany and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest NY: 14%	13%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	28 minLowest 14% below NY
Work from home	12.9%±7.2Highest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Berlin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	BERLIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	BERLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0	—
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.