What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).

Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k 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	Jefferson	Otsego
People
Population	1,226Lowest	3,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.9±5.2Highest 35% above NY	52.1±5.8Lowest 31% above NY
	Jefferson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	12.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Jefferson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.8%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Otsego and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%	53.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$72,891±$16kHighest 15% below NY
	Otsego and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 56% below NY	$352,600±$42kHighest 17% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,205±$165 26% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Lowest 45% below NY	$4,702Highest 29% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jefferson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest NY: 14%	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 3% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9%	19.9%±9.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jefferson and Otsego 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	—	#65 of 484 in NY
School district	—	COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.