What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oneida has the most people working from home (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	Dunkirk	Oneida
People
Population	12,549Highest	10,171Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±3.1Lowest 10% above NY	47±2.4Highest 18% above NY
	Oneida 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%	19%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Dunkirk and Oneida 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%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Oneida 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%	25.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Dunkirk and Oneida 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	$61,597±$6kHighest 28% below NY
	Oneida 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	$160,100±$9kHighest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$81Lowest 47% below NY	$903±$77Highest 44% below NY
	Oneida and Dunkirk 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	$3,778Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Oneida and Dunkirk 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%	14.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	61.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY	1946Highest 13 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	19 minHighest 41% below NY
Work from home	4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	8%±1.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Oneida 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	#106 of 484 in NY
School district	DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	11.4Highest
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.