What stands out worked out from the figures below

Summit has the most kids (17.7% under 18).

Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k median).

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	Summit	Wayne
People
Population	976Lowest	1,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.7±7.3Lowest 40% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
	Wayne and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Summit and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±2Lowest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
	Wayne and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,375±$26kLowest 13% below NY	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$150,000±$29kLowest 65% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,031±$304 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,230Lowest 66% below NY	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest NY: 14%	6.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 3% above NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	5.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wayne and Summit 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.