What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westerlo has the most kids (23.3% 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	Westerlo
People
Population	1,901Lowest	3,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54±3.3Highest 36% above NY	44.2±9Lowest 11% above NY
	Rensselaerville and Westerlo 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%	23.3%±6.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Westerlo 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%	23.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville and Westerlo 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%	37%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.6%±4Highest NY: 7%
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,324±$26kLowest 5% above NY	$99,167±$20kHighest 15% above NY
	Westerlo 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	$316,200±$49kHighest 25% below NY
	Westerlo 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	$763±$235Lowest 53% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,247Highest 20% below NY	$4,252Lowest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±61.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	17.9%±34.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Westerlo 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%	7.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 13 yrs newer than NY	1972 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 16% above NY	29 minLowest 11% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±6.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville 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.