What stands out worked out from the figures below

Au Sable has the most affordable homes ($133k median).

Waterville has the most people working from home (8.5%).

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	Au Sable	Waterville
People
Population	3,156Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±8Lowest 17% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Waterville and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Au Sable and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,069±$36kHighest 18% above U.S.	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Au Sable and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,000±$43kLowest 60% below U.S.	$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$328Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S.
	Waterville and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,242Lowest 4% above U.S.	$3,957Highest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Au Sable and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	3.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waterville and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 484 in NY	—
School district	AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town	AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
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.