What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k median).

Herkimer has the most affordable homes ($133k 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	Waltham	Herkimer
People
Population	452Lowest	7,566Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.	45.4±3.4Lowest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Herkimer and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.	$48,529±$16kLowest 40% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average	$133,200±$29kLowest 60% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S.	$821±$82Lowest 42% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.	$3,607Lowest 16% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Herkimer and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Herkimer 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.