What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

Russia has the most kids (21.3% 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	Russia
People
Population	1,033Lowest	2,272Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	20.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Russia 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	$86,116±$17kLowest about the NY average
	Wayne and Russia 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	$232,200±$44kLowest 45% below NY
	Wayne and Russia 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	$888±$325Lowest 45% below NY
	Wayne and Russia 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	$2,939Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	31.1%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne and Russia 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%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wayne and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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.