What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k median).

Hartwick has the most affordable homes ($174k 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	Otsego	Hartwick
People
Population	3,627Highest	2,143Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.1±5.8Highest 31% above NY	49.3±5.4Lowest 24% above NY
	Otsego and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	13%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hartwick and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.8%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%	20.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	41.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Otsego and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,891±$16kLowest 15% below NY	$81,196±$6kHighest 6% below NY
	Hartwick and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,600±$42kHighest 17% below NY	$173,500±$36kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$165Highest 26% below NY	$1,000±$174Lowest 38% below NY
	Otsego and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,702Highest 29% below NY	$2,912Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.6%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hartwick and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%	7.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	18 minLowest 44% below NY
Work from home	19.9%±9.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hartwick 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.