What stands out worked out from the figures below

Youngstown has the most kids (22% under 18).

Hartwick has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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	Youngstown	Hartwick
People
Population	1,758Lowest	2,143Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.6±3.2Highest 25% above NY	49.3±5.4Lowest 24% above NY
	Youngstown and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	13%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	28.7%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	20.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42%Highest NY: 40.2%	41.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Hartwick and Youngstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,369±$17kHighest 5% below NY	$81,196±$6kLowest 6% below NY
	Youngstown and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$216,100±$21kHighest 49% below NY	$173,500±$36kLowest 59% below NY
	Youngstown and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$124Lowest 44% below NY	$1,000±$174Highest 38% below NY
	Hartwick and Youngstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,930Highest 40% below NY	$2,912Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.9%±6.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hartwick and Youngstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest NY: 14%	7.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% below NY	18 minLowest 44% below NY
Work from home	6.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hartwick and Youngstown 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.