What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ilion has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Herkimer has the most expensive homes ($133k 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	Ilion	Herkimer
People
Population	7,593Highest	7,566Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±3.4Lowest 13% above NY	45.4±3.4Highest 14% above NY
	Herkimer and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	14.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ilion and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	20.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ilion and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	8.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,843±$16kHighest 27% below NY	$48,529±$16kLowest 44% below NY
	Ilion and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$108,700±$16kLowest 74% below NY	$133,200±$29kHighest 69% below NY
	Herkimer and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY	$821±$82Highest 49% below NY
	Herkimer and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,958Lowest 55% below NY	$3,607Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±15Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.7%±16.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Herkimer and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Lowest NY: 14%	26.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	52.6%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 minLowest 39% below NY	20 minHighest 38% below NY
Work from home	7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Herkimer and Ilion 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.