What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lima has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).

Varick has the most expensive homes ($267k 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	Lima	Varick
People
Population	2,064Highest	1,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.6±5.7Highest 8% below NY	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY
	Lima and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Varick and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.2%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Varick and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.6%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,420±$18kLowest 19% below NY	$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY
	Varick and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$203,300±$19kLowest 52% below NY	$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$830±$177Lowest 49% below NY	$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,884Highest 11% below NY	$4,604Lowest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±24.8Highest NY: 52.1%	29.6%±36.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lima and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest NY: 14%	17.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 min 29% below NY	23 min 29% below NY
Work from home	12.4%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Varick and Lima 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.