Compare towns
Fayette vs Waterloo vs Orleans
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 homeowners (82.1%).
Waterloo has the most affordable homes ($114k median).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Waterloo | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607 |
4,605Highest |
2,778Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
0%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.1Lowest about the NY average |
50.8±4.5Highest 28% above NY |
40.2±5.4 about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±5.5 NY: 20.5% |
16.9%±3.3Lowest 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% |
29.4%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Waterloo and Orleans 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% |
24.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
4.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,500±$11k 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±$29k 59% below NY |
$114,300±$7kLowest 73% 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 |
$927±$49Lowest 43% below NY |
$1,061±$289 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 |
$3,772 43% below NY |
$2,380Lowest 64% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±28Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.6%±13.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.6%±5.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Orleans and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% NY: 14% |
11.7%Highest NY: 14% |
8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
68.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
78.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
21 minHighest 35% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±7.7 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Orleans and Waterloo 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.