What stands out worked out from the figures below

Potter has the most kids (29% under 18).

Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k 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	Wayne
People
Population	1,871Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Potter and Wayne 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	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
	Wayne and Potter 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	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Potter and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%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 minLowest 25% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Potter and Wayne 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.