What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Murray has the most affordable homes ($124k 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	Berlin	Murray
People
Population	1,960Lowest	4,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8% NY: +4.2%	-3.8% NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.3±5.3Highest 4% above NY	40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average
	Berlin and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Berlin and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Murray and Berlin 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%	16.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,313±$25kHighest 7% below NY	$65,077±$5kLowest 24% below NY
	Berlin and Murray 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	$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,160±$309Highest 28% below NY	$826±$63Lowest 49% below NY
	Berlin and Murray 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	$3,907Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.7%±17.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Murray 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%	10%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	12.9%±7.2Highest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Berlin and Murray 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	—	#430 of 484 in NY
School district	BERLIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BERLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL	HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0Lowest	9.5Highest
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.