What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caroga has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Wayne has the most people working from home (9.3%).

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	Caroga	Wayne
People
Population	983Lowest	1,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±5.3Lowest 39% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±6.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Caroga and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,395±$18kLowest 24% below NY	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,300±$25kLowest 59% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,031±$304 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,547Lowest 61% below NY	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	3.6%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wayne and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	WHEELERVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.