What stands out worked out from the figures below

Homer has the most affordable homes ($165k median).

Wheatland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Homer	Wheatland
People
Population	3,114Lowest	4,857Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±3.5Lowest about the NY average	42±4.5Highest 6% above NY
	Wheatland and Homer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.7%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wheatland and Homer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%	16.9%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Homer and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,472±$11kLowest 16% below NY	$82,538±$15kHighest 4% below NY
	Wheatland and Homer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$165,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY	$183,100±$15kHighest 57% below NY
	Wheatland and Homer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,158±$264Highest 29% below NY	$1,153±$148Lowest 29% below NY
	Homer and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,884Lowest 26% below NY	$5,568Highest 15% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±28.9Highest NY: 52.1%	36%±17.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Homer and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	11.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	67.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	8.5%±6.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wheatland and Homer 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	—	#306 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WHEATLAND-CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	WHEATLAND-CHILI HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.3
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.