What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

Deerfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Berne	Deerfield
People
Population	2,679Lowest	3,933Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.7±3.3Highest 20% above NY	46.6±4.1Lowest 17% above NY
	Berne and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Deerfield and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.8%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Deerfield and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,219±$33kHighest 22% above NY	$101,029±$7kLowest 18% above NY
	Berne and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$37kHighest 30% below NY	$231,300±$16kLowest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$537Highest 39% below NY	$763±$122Lowest 53% below NY
	Berne and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,331Highest 34% below NY	$3,990Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±87.4Highest NY: 52.1%	44.1%±32.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Berne and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest NY: 14%	6.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	93.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%	12.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Berne and Deerfield 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	#240 of 484 in NY	#120 of 484 in NY
School district	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WHITESBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8	—
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.