What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lima has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).

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	Varick	Lima
People
Population	1,724Lowest	2,064Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY	36.6±5.7Highest 8% below NY
	Lima 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%	24.3%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Varick and Lima 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%	15.6%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Varick and Lima are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	15.6%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY	$69,420±$18kLowest 19% below NY
	Varick and Lima 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	$203,300±$19kLowest 52% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY	$830±$177Lowest 49% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 30% below NY	$5,884Highest 11% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.6%±36.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.3%±24.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lima and Varick 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%	6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 min 29% below NY	23 min 29% below NY
Work from home	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%	12.4%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Varick and Lima 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.