What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Broome has the most people working from home (14.6%).

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	Wells	Broome
People
Population	671Lowest	773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY	55.2±3.7Lowest 39% above NY
	Wells and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	7.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wells and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.9%±7.6Highest NY: 17.9%	27%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Wells and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	7.1%±6.3Highest NY: 7%
	Broome and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,286±$31kLowest 14% below NY	$78,490±$12kHighest 9% below NY
	Broome and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY	$179,200±$63kLowest 58% below NY
	Wells and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,231±$254 24% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,588Lowest 61% below NY	$4,096Highest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wells and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest NY: 14%	6.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	43 minHighest 32% above NY	36 minLowest 11% above NY
Work from home	3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.6%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9%
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.