What stands out worked out from the figures below

Potter has the most people working from home (13.4%).

Wales has the most expensive homes ($245k 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	Potter	Wales
People
Population	1,871Lowest	3,015Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY	43.9±6.6Highest 10% above NY
	Wales and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	25.2%±5.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Potter and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.1%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wales and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7%	0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Potter and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY	$88,590±$19kHighest 3% above NY
	Wales and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY	$244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,005±$136Highest 38% below NY	$950±$503Lowest 41% below NY
	Potter and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,796Lowest 58% below NY	$4,782Highest 27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	20.5%±27.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Potter and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 min 25% below NY	25 min 25% below NY
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Potter and Wales 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	—	#321 of 484 in NY
School district	—	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.