What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ilion has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Waterloo has the most people working from home (10.4%).

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	Ilion	Waterloo
People
Population	7,593Highest	7,324Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±3.4Lowest 13% above NY	45.4±3.1Highest 14% above NY
	Waterloo and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ilion and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.9%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Waterloo and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	7.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,843±$16kLowest 27% below NY	$63,226±$11kHighest 26% below NY
	Waterloo and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$108,700±$16kLowest 74% below NY	$117,500±$8kHighest 72% below NY
	Waterloo and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY	$922±$39Highest 43% below NY
	Waterloo and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,958Lowest 55% below NY	$3,396Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±15Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.6%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Waterloo and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest NY: 14%	10.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	65.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 39% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.4%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterloo and Ilion 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
High school 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.