What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has the most affordable homes ($174k median).

Orleans has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Fayette	Orleans
People
Population	3,607Highest	2,778Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	0%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±5.1Lowest about the NY average	40.2±5.4Highest about the NY average
	Orleans and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.4%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Orleans and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Orleans and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Fayette and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,875±$25kHighest 9% below NY	$77,500±$11kLowest 10% below NY
	Fayette and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,900±$29kLowest 59% below NY	$190,300±$45kHighest 55% below NY
	Orleans and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$532Highest 25% below NY	$1,061±$289Lowest 35% below NY
	Fayette and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,814Highest 42% below NY	$2,380Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.6%±5.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Orleans and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Orleans and Fayette 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	—	#212 of 484 in NY
School district	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.