What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ogdensburg has the highest household income ($62k).

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	Ogdensburg
People
Population	12,549Highest	9,455Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±3.1Highest 10% above NY	42.5±2.1Lowest 7% above NY
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg 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%	17.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%	16.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg 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%	17.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	2%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg 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	$61,824±$8kHighest 28% below NY
	Ogdensburg 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±$6kHighest 78% below NY	$85,400±$7kLowest 80% below NY
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$81Highest 47% below NY	$778±$77Lowest 52% below NY
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg 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	$2,644Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±7.7Highest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dunkirk and Ogdensburg 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%	16.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	66.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 42% below NY	17 minLowest 47% below NY
Work from home	4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ogdensburg 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	#424 of 484 in NY
School district	DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	OGDENSBURG FREE ACADEMY
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	9.6Lowest
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.