What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Square has the most expensive homes ($196k median).

Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Central Square	Waterford
People
Population	2,163Highest	2,085Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.3±8Highest 9% above NY	42.4±5.7Lowest 7% above NY
	Central Square and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	16.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Central Square and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.7%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Waterford and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	4.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Central Square and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,500±$23kLowest 19% below NY	$72,938±$12kHighest 15% below NY
	Waterford and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$20kHighest 54% below NY	$157,500±$30kLowest 63% below NY
	Central Square and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$91Lowest 44% below NY	$1,082±$91Highest 33% below NY
	Waterford and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,756Highest 13% below NY	$3,534Lowest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1%	26.5%±11.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Central Square and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest NY: 14%	10.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	53.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	23 minLowest 29% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	14%±8.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterford and Central Square 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	—	#286 of 484 in NY
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.