Compare towns
Dunkirk vs Williston vs Herkimer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering DunkirkDunkirk
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunkirk has the most affordable homes ($95k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Herkimer has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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.
| Measure | Dunkirk | Williston | Herkimer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,549Highest |
10,144 |
9,534Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±3.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Herkimer and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Herkimer and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Herkimer and Williston 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 34% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$56,287±$14k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,700±$6kLowest 72% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$136,300±$22k 59% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$81 39% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$820±$74Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,352Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,453 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #465 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT | #363 of 484 in NY |
| School district | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.