What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rensselaerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

Berne has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

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	Rensselaerville	Berne
People
Population	1,901Lowest	2,679Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54±3.3Highest 36% above NY	47.7±3.3Lowest 20% above NY
	Rensselaerville and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.7%±5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Berne and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%	23.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	35.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6 NY: 7%	1.3%±1.4 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,324±$26kLowest 5% above NY	$105,219±$33kHighest 22% above NY
	Berne and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,800±$36kLowest 39% below NY	$296,300±$37kHighest 30% below NY
	Berne and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY	$983±$537Lowest 39% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,247Highest 20% below NY	$4,331Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±61.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	56.3%±87.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Berne and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.8%Lowest NY: 14%	3.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 16% above NY	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	13.8%±6.3 NY: 14.9%	13.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#240 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.8
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.