What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berne has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

Rensselaerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Rensselaerville
People
Population	2,679Highest	1,901Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.7±3.3Lowest 20% above NY	54±3.3Highest 36% above NY
	Rensselaerville and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±5Highest NY: 20.5%	14%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Berne and Rensselaerville 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%	30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville 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%	40.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.4 NY: 7%	1.3%±1.6 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,219±$33kHighest 22% above NY	$90,324±$26kLowest 5% above NY
	Berne and Rensselaerville 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	$259,800±$36kLowest 39% below NY
	Berne and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$537Lowest 39% below NY	$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,331Lowest 34% below NY	$5,247Highest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±87.4Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±61.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Berne and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Highest NY: 14%	0.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	89.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	38 minHighest 16% above NY
Work from home	13.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.3 NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#240 of 484 in NY	—
School district	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
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.