Compare towns
Otsego vs Mendon vs Hartwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otsego has the most renters (29.6% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Otsego | Mendon | Hartwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,627Highest |
1,113Lowest |
2,143 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±5.8 34% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
49.3±5.4Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$81,196±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,600±$42k 6% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$173,500±$36kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$165 15% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,000±$174Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,702 51% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,912Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±13.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Hartwick 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.