What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterloo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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	7,324Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±5.1Lowest about the NY average	45.4±3.1Highest 14% above NY
	Waterloo and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±2.9Lowest 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%	25.9%±3.7Highest 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%	21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	7.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,875±$25kHighest 9% below NY	$63,226±$11kLowest 26% 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	$117,500±$8kLowest 72% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$532Highest 25% below NY	$922±$39Lowest 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	$3,396Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.6%±11.9Highest 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%	10.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	65.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.4%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterloo 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	—	#340 of 484 in NY
School district	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	WATERLOO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
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.