What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k 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	Walden	Otsego
People
Population	1,037Lowest	3,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S.	52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S.
	Otsego and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Walden and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Otsego and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S.	$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S.
	Walden and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S.	$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,205±$165Highest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,702Highest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.6%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walden and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Walden and Otsego 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	—	#65 of 484 in NY
School district	Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78	COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.