What stands out worked out from the figures below

Varick has the most people working from home (12.7%).

Alabama has the most affordable homes ($146k 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	Varick	Alabama
People
Population	1,724Lowest	1,831Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY	34.8±4.2Highest 13% below NY
	Alabama and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±8.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Varick and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%	9.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	30.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	6.7%±4.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kLowest 7% below NY	$81,833±$11kHighest 5% below NY
	Alabama and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY	$145,600±$14kLowest 66% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY	$775±$141Lowest 52% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Highest 30% below NY	$3,444Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.6%±36.7Highest NY: 52.1%	24.7%±6.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Varick and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest NY: 14%	7.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Varick and Alabama 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.