Compare towns
Herkimer vs Dunkirk vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Herkimer has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Dunkirk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Fairfield has the most kids (38.7% 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.
| Measure | Herkimer | Dunkirk | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,534 |
12,549Highest |
1,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6% NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY |
43.7±3.1 10% above NY |
30.4±8.4Lowest 24% below NY |
| Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20%±2.8 NY: 20.5% |
38.7%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
16.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Herkimer and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,287±$14k 35% below NY |
$53,299±$6kLowest 38% below NY |
$89,875±$21kHighest 5% above 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 | $136,300±$22k 68% below NY |
$94,700±$6kLowest 78% below NY |
$172,000±$16kHighest 59% 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 | $820±$74Lowest 49% below NY |
$866±$81 47% below NY |
$1,100±$181Highest 32% below NY |
| Fairfield and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,453 48% below NY |
$2,352Lowest 64% below NY |
$3,492Highest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±15.8 NY: 52.1% |
46.6%±7.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
31.8%±90Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Dunkirk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.7% NY: 14% |
24.3%Highest NY: 14% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.6% NY: 54.3% |
58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
94%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 15 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 34% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
25 minHighest 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.7%±5.7Highest 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 | #465 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.