What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($532k median).

Otsego has the most affordable 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	Washington	Otsego
People
Population	4,496Highest	3,627Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.8±2.3Highest 43% above NY	52.1±5.8Lowest 31% above NY
	Washington and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.7%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	12.1%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Otsego and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.8%±6.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.8%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Otsego and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	53.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Otsego and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,303±$38kHighest 19% above NY	$72,891±$16kLowest 15% below NY
	Washington and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$532,300±$170kHighest 26% above NY	$352,600±$42kLowest 17% below NY
	Washington and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,176±$226Lowest 27% below NY	$1,205±$165Highest 26% below NY
	Otsego and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,305Highest 11% above NY	$4,702Lowest 29% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Washington and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%	6.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	70.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	19.5%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.9%±9.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Otsego and Washington 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	#267 of 484 in NY	#65 of 484 in NY
School district	MILLBROOK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	MILLBROOK HIGH SCHOOL	COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	12.8Highest
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.