What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colden has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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

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	Colden	Berne
People
Population	3,145Highest	2,679Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY	47.7±3.3Lowest 20% above NY
	Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	18.7%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.7%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Berne and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Highest NY: 40.2%	35.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,935±$15kLowest 14% above NY	$105,219±$33kHighest 22% above NY
	Berne and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY	$296,300±$37kLowest 30% below NY
	Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$943±$142Lowest 42% below NY	$983±$537Highest 39% below NY
	Berne and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,752Highest 28% below NY	$4,331Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1%	56.3%±87.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest NY: 14%	3.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 19% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Colden 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	#346 of 484 in NY	#240 of 484 in NY
School district	SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None 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.