What stands out worked out from the figures below

Varick has the most kids (30.3% under 18).

Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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	Wheelock
People
Population	1,724Highest	717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.1±3.6Lowest 15% below U.S.	51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	30.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wheelock and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Varick and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$41kHighest 20% below U.S.	$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$88 9% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Highest 48% above U.S.	$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.6%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Varick and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock and Varick 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

U.S. 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.