What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westerlo has the most kids (23.3% under 18).

Rensselaerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Westerlo	Rensselaerville
People
Population	3,208Highest	1,901Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±9Lowest 11% above NY	54±3.3Highest 36% above NY
	Rensselaerville and Westerlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±6.9Highest NY: 20.5%	14%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville and Westerlo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Lowest NY: 40.2%	40.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±4Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,167±$20kHighest 15% above NY	$90,324±$26kLowest 5% above NY
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,200±$49kHighest 25% below NY	$259,800±$36kLowest 39% below NY
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$763±$235Lowest 53% below NY	$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,252Lowest 35% below NY	$5,247Highest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.9%±34.2Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±61.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest NY: 14%	0.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 13 yrs newer than NY	1972 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% below NY	38 minHighest 16% above NY
Work from home	15.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Westerlo and Rensselaerville 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.