What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k 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	Waltham
People
Population	7,566Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.4±3.4Lowest 17% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Herkimer and Waltham 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%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,529±$16kLowest 40% below U.S.	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,200±$29kLowest 60% below U.S.	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$821±$82Lowest 42% below U.S.	$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,607Lowest 16% above U.S.	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Herkimer and Waltham 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Herkimer 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

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.