Compare towns
Fayette vs Orleans vs Varick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayette has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Varick has the most expensive homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Fayette | Orleans | Varick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607Highest |
2,778 |
1,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% NY: +4.2% |
0%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.1 about the NY average |
40.2±5.4Highest about the NY average |
33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY |
| 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%±5.5 NY: 20.5% |
30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Varick and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.2%±1.9Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
24.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1 NY: 7% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest 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±$25k 9% below NY |
$77,500±$11kLowest 10% below NY |
$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY |
| Varick and Fayette 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±$45k 55% below NY |
$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY |
| Varick and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$532 25% below NY |
$1,061±$289Lowest 35% below NY |
$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY |
| Varick and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,814 42% below NY |
$2,380Lowest 64% below NY |
$4,604Highest 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±28 NY: 52.1% |
50.6%±5.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.6%±36.7Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
8%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NY: 54.3% |
78.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
23 minHighest 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±7.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Orleans and Varick 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 | 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.