What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erin has the most kids (23% under 18).

Watson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).

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	Erin	Watson
People
Population	1,912Lowest	1,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±3.8Highest 10% above NY	43.7±5.4Lowest 10% above NY
	Erin and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Erin and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Erin and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,583±$8kLowest 23% below NY	$68,864±$12kHighest 20% below NY
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,400±$27kLowest 69% below NY	$161,300±$18kHighest 62% below NY
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$747±$305Lowest 54% below NY	$912±$194Highest 44% below NY
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,396Highest 48% below NY	$2,510Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±68.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±40.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	8.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	4.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.8%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Watson and Erin 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.