What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Otsego has the most people working from home (19.9%).

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	Stanford	Otsego
People
Population	3,692Highest	3,627Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.3±5.1Lowest 29% above NY	52.1±5.8Highest 31% above NY
	Otsego and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	12.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Stanford and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.8%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Otsego and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	53.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Otsego and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,578±$18kHighest 3% above NY	$72,891±$16kLowest 15% below NY
	Stanford and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,200±$32kHighest about the NY average	$352,600±$42kLowest 17% below NY
	Stanford and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,124±$104Lowest 31% below NY	$1,205±$165Highest 26% below NY
	Otsego and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,762Highest 12% below NY	$4,702Lowest 29% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±15Highest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Stanford and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest NY: 14%	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72%Highest NY: 54.3%	70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	10%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.9%±9.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Otsego and Stanford 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	—	#65 of 484 in NY
School district	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.