What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dickinson has the most people working from home (14.4%).

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Dickinson	Union
People
Population	5,001Lowest	55,078Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.7±3.3Highest 7% above NY	41.4±1.2Lowest 4% above NY
	Dickinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	19%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Union and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.4%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Union and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	6.1%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Dickinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,864±$14kHighest 9% below NY	$61,713±$2kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY	$149,900±$5kHighest 65% below NY
	Union and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$941±$68Highest 42% below NY	$936±$37Lowest 42% below NY
	Dickinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,523Lowest 46% below NY	$4,200Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	49.2%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Union and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%	16.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	58.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 48% below NY	18 minHighest 46% below NY
Work from home	14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Dickinson and Union 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	—	#199 of 484 in NY
School district	CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.