What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	2,679Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.7±3.3Highest 23% above U.S.	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Berne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Berne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Berne and Worcester 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester 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 30% above U.S.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Berne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$37kHighest 11% below U.S.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Berne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$537Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S.
	Worcester and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,331Lowest 39% above U.S.	$4,421Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±87.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester and Berne 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	—
School district	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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

U.S. 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.