What stands out worked out from the figures below

Herkimer has the most affordable homes ($133k median).

Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).

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	Sharon
People
Population	7,566Highest	1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3.4Lowest 17% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.
	Sharon and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,529±$16kLowest 40% below U.S.	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,200±$29kLowest 60% below U.S.	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$821±$82Lowest 42% below U.S.	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,607Lowest 16% above U.S.	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Herkimer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	26.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Sharon School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.