What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Johnstown has the most kids (19.3% 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	Johnstown
People
Population	9,534Highest	8,111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY	44±4.8Lowest 11% above NY
	Herkimer and Johnstown 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%	19.3%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Johnstown and Herkimer 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%	21.5%±3.9 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,287±$14kLowest 35% below NY	$63,763±$9kHighest 26% below NY
	Johnstown 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±$22kLowest 68% below NY	$157,800±$11kHighest 63% below NY
	Johnstown 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	$914±$43Highest 44% below NY
	Johnstown and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,453Lowest 48% below NY	$3,613Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±15.8Highest NY: 52.1%	43.2%±12Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Herkimer and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.7%Highest NY: 14%	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	60.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Highest 15 yrs older than NY	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 34% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Herkimer and Johnstown 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	#403 of 484 in NY
School district	HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL	JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.8Highest
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.