What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayland has the most affordable homes ($100k 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	Wayland
People
Population	1,871Lowest	2,007Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY	36.5±4.7Highest 8% below NY
	Wayland and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	31.5%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wayland and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%	13.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Potter and Wayland 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%	15.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7%	1.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Potter and Wayland 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	$74,688±$18kHighest 13% below NY
	Wayland 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±$23kHighest 69% below NY	$99,500±$12kLowest 77% below NY
	Potter and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,005±$136Highest 38% below NY	$808±$159Lowest 50% below NY
	Potter and Wayland 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	$2,938Highest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±18.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.4%±20.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayland and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest NY: 14%	17%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	30 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	5.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#390 of 484 in NY
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.