What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most kids (38.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Herkimer
People
Population	1,801Lowest	9,534Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	30.4±8.4Lowest 24% below NY	45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY
Kids under 18	38.7%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	16.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Herkimer and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	17.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,875±$21kHighest 5% above NY	$56,287±$14kLowest 35% below NY
	Fairfield and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$16kHighest 59% below NY	$136,300±$22kLowest 68% below NY
	Fairfield and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$181Highest 32% below NY	$820±$74Lowest 49% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,492Highest 47% below NY	$3,453Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±90Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.9%±15.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Herkimer and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Lowest NY: 14%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	59.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1944Lowest 15 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 23% below NY	22 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	13.7%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Fairfield and Herkimer 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	—	#363 of 484 in NY
School district	—	HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
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.