What stands out worked out from the figures below

Remsen has the most people working from home (12.1%).

Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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	Remsen	Russia
People
Population	1,666Lowest	2,272Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47±4.6Highest 18% above NY	43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY
	Remsen and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Russia and Remsen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Russia and Remsen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Remsen and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,438±$8kLowest 17% below NY	$86,116±$17kHighest about the NY average
	Russia and Remsen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,800±$12kLowest 60% below NY	$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$808±$66Lowest 50% below NY	$888±$325Highest 45% below NY
	Russia and Remsen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,229Highest 51% below NY	$2,939Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±25.9Highest NY: 52.1%	31.1%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Remsen and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest about the NY average	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	12.1%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Remsen and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	REMSEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	REMSEN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	10.6Highest
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.