What stands out worked out from the figures below

Herkimer has the most people working from home (8.4%).

Malone has the shortest commute (13 min average).

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	Malone
People
Population	7,566Highest	5,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.4±3.4Highest 14% above NY	43.4±6.4Lowest 9% above NY
	Herkimer and Malone 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%	18.5%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Malone and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%	18.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Herkimer and Malone 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%	24%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,529±$16kLowest 44% below NY	$60,548±$9kHighest 30% below NY
	Malone 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±$29kHighest 69% below NY	$107,600±$9kLowest 75% below NY
	Herkimer and Malone 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	$839±$37Highest 48% below NY
	Malone and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,607Highest 45% below NY	$2,564Lowest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±16.7Highest NY: 52.1%	31%±14.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Herkimer and Malone 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%	22.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	51.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 38% below NY	13 minLowest 60% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9%	4.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Herkimer and Malone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.