What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).

Oneida has the most affordable homes ($160k 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	Vernon	Oneida
People
Population	8,219Lowest	10,171Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+53.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±2.5Lowest 17% above NY	47±2.4Highest 18% above NY
	Oneida and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	19%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Oneida and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%	21%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Vernon and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Vernon and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,601±$6kHighest 10% below NY	$61,597±$6kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,100±$11kHighest 52% below NY	$160,100±$9kLowest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$127Lowest 44% below NY	$903±$77Highest 44% below NY
	Oneida and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,656Lowest 44% below NY	$3,778Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26%±6.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%	14.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Highest NY: 54.3%	61.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 1 yr older than NY	1946Lowest 13 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 33% below NY	19 minLowest 41% below NY
Work from home	13.2%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9%	8%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Vernon and Oneida 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	#368 of 484 in NY	#106 of 484 in NY
School district	SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.