What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wethersfield has the highest household income ($96k).

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	Wethersfield
People
Population	3,216Highest	815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.4Lowest 14% above NY	46±4.4Highest 16% above NY
	Wethersfield and Gaines 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%	21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wethersfield 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%	13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	20.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	4.2%±3.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Gaines and Wethersfield 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	$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,800±$19kLowest 70% below NY	$131,300±$20kHighest 69% below NY
	Wethersfield and Gaines 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	$916±$126Lowest 43% below NY
	Gaines and Wethersfield 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	$2,787Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.4%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	30.2%±38.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wethersfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest NY: 14%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gaines and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.