What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k median).

Johnstown has the most kids (19.3% under 18).

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	Wayne	Johnstown
People
Population	1,033Lowest	8,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	44±4.8Lowest 11% above NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.3%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Johnstown and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY	$63,763±$9kLowest 26% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY	$157,800±$11kLowest 63% below NY
	Wayne and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY	$914±$43Lowest 44% below NY
	Wayne and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Highest 40% below NY	$3,613Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	43.2%±12Highest NY: 52.1%
	Johnstown and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	8.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	60.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wayne and Johnstown 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	—	#403 of 484 in NY
School district	—	JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
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.