What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Waterville has the highest household income ($82k).

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	Waterville
People
Population	2,163Highest	1,731Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY	44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY
	Waterville and Central Square 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%	18.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Central Square and Waterville 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%	21.5%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Waterville 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%	24.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Central Square and Waterville 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	$82,273±$13kHighest 4% below NY
	Waterville 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	$170,100±$12kLowest 60% below NY
	Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$91Highest 44% below NY	$820±$132Lowest 49% below NY
	Central Square and Waterville 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	$3,425Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1%	24%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Central Square and Waterville 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%	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	54.1%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	22 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterville and Central Square 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.