What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayland has the most affordable homes ($100k median).

Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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	Wayland	Russia
People
Population	2,007Lowest	2,272Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.5±4.7Lowest 8% below NY	43.9±2.9Highest 10% above NY
	Russia and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	31.5%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wayland and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Russia and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,688±$18kLowest 13% below NY	$86,116±$17kHighest about the NY average
	Russia and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$99,500±$12kLowest 77% below NY	$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$808±$159Lowest 50% below NY	$888±$325Highest 45% below NY
	Russia and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,938Lowest 55% below NY	$2,939Highest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±20.9Highest NY: 52.1%	31.1%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wayland and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1959Highest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Russia and Wayland 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	#390 of 484 in NY	—
School district	—	POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.6
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.