What stands out worked out from the figures below

Herkimer has the most expensive homes ($136k median).

Ilion has the most kids (20.8% 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	Herkimer	Ilion
People
Population	9,534Highest	7,593Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY	44.9±3.4Lowest 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%	20.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ilion and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,287±$14kLowest 35% 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	$108,700±$16kLowest 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±$74Highest 49% below NY	$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY
	Herkimer and Ilion 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	$2,958Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±15.8 NY: 52.1%	45.9%±15 NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	21.7%Highest NY: 14%	14.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	66.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Highest 15 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 34% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±4.3Lowest 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	—
School district	HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
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.