What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartwick has the most people working from home (22.2%).

Youngstown has the most kids (22% 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	Hartwick	Youngstown
People
Population	2,143Highest	1,758Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.3±5.4Lowest 24% above NY	49.6±3.2Highest 25% above NY
	Youngstown and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	22%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	20.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	28.7%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Hartwick and Youngstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,196±$6kLowest 6% below NY	$81,369±$17kHighest 5% below NY
	Youngstown and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,500±$36kLowest 59% below NY	$216,100±$21kHighest 49% below NY
	Youngstown and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,000±$174Highest 38% below NY	$900±$124Lowest 44% below NY
	Hartwick and Youngstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,912Lowest 56% below NY	$3,930Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%	56.9%±6.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hartwick and Youngstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest NY: 14%	5.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 44% below NY	31 minHighest 6% below NY
Work from home	22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hartwick and Youngstown 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.