Compare towns
Herkimer vs Williston vs Dunkirk vs Ilion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Herkimer has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dunkirk has the most affordable homes ($95k 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.
| Measure | Herkimer | Williston | Dunkirk | Ilion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,534 |
10,144 |
12,549Highest |
7,593Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±3.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.9±3.4 15% above U.S. |
| Herkimer and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ilion and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Herkimer and Williston 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 30% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$53,299±$6kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$62,843±$16k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $136,300±$22k 59% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$94,700±$6kLowest 72% below U.S. |
$108,700±$16k 67% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $820±$74 42% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$866±$81 39% below U.S. |
$694±$228Lowest 51% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,453 11% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,352Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,958 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #363 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT | #465 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.