What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otisco has the most affordable homes ($264k median).

Westerlo has the most people working from home (15.7%).

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	Otisco	Westerlo
People
Population	2,545Lowest	3,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.2±4.7Lowest 6% above NY	44.2±9Highest 11% above NY
	Westerlo and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%	23.3%±6.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Otisco and Westerlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.2%±5.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Westerlo and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest NY: 40.2%	37%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.6%±4Highest NY: 7%
	Westerlo and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,950±$17kLowest about the NY average	$99,167±$20kHighest 15% above NY
	Westerlo and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,900±$18kLowest 38% below NY	$316,200±$49kHighest 25% below NY
	Westerlo and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$964±$92Highest 41% below NY	$763±$235Lowest 53% below NY
	Otisco and Westerlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,368Highest 18% below NY	$4,252Lowest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.8%±31.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	17.9%±34.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Westerlo and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%	7.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	29 minHighest 11% below NY
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Westerlo and Otisco 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.