What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

Wayland has the highest household income ($65k).

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	Minden	Wayland
People
Population	4,181Highest	3,698Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.4±8.1Lowest 4% below NY	39.5±4.3Highest about the NY average
	Wayland and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	28.2%±5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wayland and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3.2 NY: 17.9%	17.7%±3.2 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	15.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NY: 7%	1.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$44,195±$10kLowest 49% below NY	$65,385±$15kHighest 24% below NY
	Wayland and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$90,500±$9kLowest 79% below NY	$105,400±$16kHighest 75% below NY
	Wayland and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$718±$99Lowest 56% below NY	$955±$280Highest 41% below NY
	Wayland and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,180Highest 52% below NY	$3,052Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8Highest NY: 52.1%	46.3%±12.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Minden and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18%Lowest NY: 14%	20%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	77%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1959Highest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	5.5%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wayland and Minden 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	#320 of 484 in NY	#390 of 484 in NY
School district	FORT PLAIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WAYLAND-COHOCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	FORT PLAIN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	WAYLAND-COHOCTON HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	9.6Highest
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.