What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k 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	Wayne	Minerva
People
Population	1,033Highest	836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	56.2±5.7Lowest 41% above NY
	Wayne and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wayne and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	35.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	Wayne and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY	$171,800±$22kLowest 59% below NY
	Wayne and Minerva 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	$784±$102Lowest 52% below NY
	Wayne and Minerva 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	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne and Minerva 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%	9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva and Wayne 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

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.