What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Potter has the most kids (29% 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	Potter
People
Population	1,033Lowest	1,871Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7%
	Potter 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	$67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY
	Wayne and Potter 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	$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY
	Wayne and Potter 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	$1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY
	Wayne and Potter 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	$2,796Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Potter 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%	10%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Potter 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.