What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dansville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Watson has the most expensive homes ($161k 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	Dansville	Watson
People
Population	1,908Lowest	1,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44±6Highest 11% above NY	43.7±5.4Lowest 10% above NY
	Dansville and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Dansville and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Watson and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±4.4Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Dansville and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,400±$9kHighest 19% below NY	$68,864±$12kLowest 20% below NY
	Dansville and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$132,700±$25kLowest 69% below NY	$161,300±$18kHighest 62% below NY
	Watson and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,143±$398Highest 29% below NY	$912±$194Lowest 44% below NY
	Dansville and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,302Highest 50% below NY	$2,510Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±42Highest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dansville and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest NY: 14%	8.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY	1981Lowest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	6.7%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Dansville and Watson 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.