What stands out worked out from the figures below

Herkimer has the most affordable homes ($133k 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	7,566Lowest	8,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.4±3.4Highest 14% 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	14.6%±3.8Lowest 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+	20.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Johnstown and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,529±$16kLowest 44% 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	$133,200±$29kLowest 69% 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	$821±$82Lowest 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	$3,607Lowest 45% below NY	$3,613Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±16.7Highest 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	26.4%Highest NY: 14%	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	60.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 38% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±6.8Highest 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	—	#403 of 484 in NY
School district	—	JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
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.