What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).

Herkimer has the most affordable homes ($133k 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	Whitingham	Herkimer
People
Population	1,368Lowest	7,566Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S.	45.4±3.4Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Whitingham and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Whitingham and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S.	$48,529±$16kLowest 40% below U.S.
	Whitingham and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S.	$133,200±$29kLowest 60% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.	$821±$82Highest 42% below U.S.
	Herkimer and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,055Highest 62% above U.S.	$3,607Lowest 16% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Whitingham and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Twin Valley Unified School District #75	—
High school in town	Twin Valley Middle High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.