What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunkirk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

Herkimer has the most people working from home (8.4%).

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	Dunkirk	Herkimer
People
Population	12,549Highest	9,534Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±3.1Lowest 10% above NY	45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY
	Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%	16.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Dunkirk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	17.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,299±$6kLowest 38% below NY	$56,287±$14kHighest 35% below NY
	Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$94,700±$6kLowest 78% below NY	$136,300±$22kHighest 68% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$81Highest 47% below NY	$820±$74Lowest 49% below NY
	Dunkirk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,352Lowest 64% below NY	$3,453Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±7.7Highest NY: 52.1%	45.9%±15.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dunkirk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.3%Highest NY: 14%	21.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	59.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY	1944Highest 15 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	22 minHighest 34% below NY
Work from home	4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Herkimer and Dunkirk 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	#465 of 484 in NY	#363 of 484 in NY
School district	DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	11.0Highest
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.