Compare towns
Herkimer vs Dunkirk vs Ilion
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 most expensive homes ($136k median).
Dunkirk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Ilion has the highest household income ($63k).
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 | Ilion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,534 |
12,549Highest |
7,593Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY |
43.7±3.1Lowest 10% above NY |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
| Herkimer and Ilion 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% |
20.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ilion and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Ilion and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.9% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$62,843±$16kHighest 27% below NY |
| Ilion 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±$22kHighest 68% below NY |
$94,700±$6kLowest 78% below NY |
$108,700±$16k 74% below NY |
| Herkimer and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $820±$74 49% below NY |
$866±$81Highest 47% below NY |
$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY |
| Dunkirk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,453Highest 48% below NY |
$2,352Lowest 64% below NY |
$2,958 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±15.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.6%±7.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15Lowest 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% |
14.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.6% NY: 54.3% |
58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
66.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Highest 15 yrs older than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 34% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Herkimer and Ilion 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.