What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterloo has the most people working from home (13.2%).

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	Waterloo
People
Population	3,607Lowest	4,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±5.1Lowest about the NY average	50.8±4.5Highest 28% above NY
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%	16.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Fayette and Waterloo 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%	29.4%±5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Waterloo 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%	23.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	4.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Waterloo and Fayette 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	$51,642±$9kLowest 40% below NY
	Fayette and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,900±$29kHighest 59% below NY	$114,300±$7kLowest 73% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$532Highest 25% below NY	$927±$49Lowest 43% below NY
	Fayette and Waterloo 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	$3,772Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%	43.6%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Waterloo and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Lowest NY: 14%	11.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	21 minHighest 35% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±7.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterloo and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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.