What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russia has the most affordable homes ($232k median).

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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	Russia	Wales
People
Population	2,272Lowest	3,015Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±2.9 10% above NY	43.9±6.6 10% above NY
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wales and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.1%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wales and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,116±$17kLowest about the NY average	$88,590±$19kHighest 3% above NY
	Wales and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$232,200±$44kLowest 45% below NY	$244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY
	Wales and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$325Lowest 45% below NY	$950±$503Highest 41% below NY
	Wales and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,939Lowest 55% below NY	$4,782Highest 27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.1%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%	20.5%±27.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Russia and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.2%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wales and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#321 of 484 in NY
School district	POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
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.