What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hounsfield has the oldest population (median age 49.3).

Watertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+32.3%).

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	Hounsfield	Watertown
People
Population	3,257Lowest	5,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+32.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.3±6.6Highest 24% above NY	35.8±2.6Lowest 10% below NY
Kids under 18	15.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Watertown and Hounsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	19%±4.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hounsfield and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	29.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.4%±3Highest NY: 7%
	Watertown and Hounsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,981±$9kHighest 3% below NY	$69,809±$15kLowest 19% below NY
	Hounsfield and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,100±$37kHighest 39% below NY	$217,400±$56kLowest 49% below NY
	Hounsfield and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,315±$97Lowest 19% below NY	$1,611±$183Highest about the NY average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,428Highest 33% below NY	$3,337Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±19.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.6%±18.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Watertown and Hounsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NY: 14%	7.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	54.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 21 yrs newer than NY	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 25% below NY	24 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	4.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.6%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Watertown and Hounsfield 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	#156 of 484 in NY	—
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.