What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).

Fort Covington has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Gerry	Fort Covington
People
Population	1,668Highest	1,410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.4±5.7Highest 32% above NY	39.1±7.8Lowest about the NY average
	Gerry and Fort Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	26%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Fort Covington and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	20.6%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	2.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Gerry and Fort Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,667±$12kHighest 20% below NY	$57,361±$19kLowest 33% below NY
	Gerry and Fort Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,200±$10kHighest 72% below NY	$100,300±$12kLowest 76% below NY
	Gerry and Fort Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY	$581±$188Lowest 64% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Highest 60% below NY	$1,581Lowest 76% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.2%±16.1 NY: 52.1%	61.2%±25.9 NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	9%Lowest NY: 14%	19.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	18 minLowest 44% below NY
Work from home	6.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Fort Covington and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SALMON RIVER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL	SALMON RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	10.6Highest
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.