What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Norfolk has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

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	Gaines	Norfolk
People
Population	3,216Lowest	4,402Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.4Highest 14% above NY	44.6±4.1Lowest 12% above NY
	Gaines and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Norfolk and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Gaines and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	14.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	6%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Gaines and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,582±$8kLowest 34% below NY	$67,500±$13kHighest 21% below NY
	Norfolk and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,800±$19kHighest 70% below NY	$105,800±$20kLowest 75% below NY
	Gaines and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$922±$72Highest 43% below NY	$788±$118Lowest 51% below NY
	Gaines and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,157Highest 52% below NY	$2,270Lowest 66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.4%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.8%±20.4Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	10.6%Lowest NY: 14%	13.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	1.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#462 of 484 in NY
School district	—	NORWOOD-NORFOLK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	NORWOOD-NORFOLK SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.4
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.