What stands out worked out from the figures below

Starkey has the most people working from home (14.9%).

Manheim has the highest household income ($70k).

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	Starkey	Manheim
People
Population	3,381Highest	3,058Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.3±2.5Lowest 4% above NY	43.3±3.8Highest 9% above NY
	Manheim and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5%	22.6%±5.2 NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.7%±4Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	18.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Manheim and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,064±$7kLowest 36% below NY	$69,527±$21kHighest 19% below NY
	Manheim and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$145,700±$17kHighest 66% below NY	$118,500±$24kLowest 72% below NY
	Starkey and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$744±$96Lowest 54% below NY	$828±$87Highest 49% below NY
	Manheim and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,412Highest 48% below NY	$2,627Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±14.6Highest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Starkey and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest NY: 14%	8.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3% NY: 54.3%	73.3% NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 20% below NY	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	14.9%±8.5Highest NY: 14.9%	9.4%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Starkey and Manheim 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	#358 of 484 in NY	#238 of 484 in NY
School district	DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	DOLGEVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	JAMES A GREEN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	10.5Highest
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.