What stands out worked out from the figures below

Independence has the most renters (16.9% rent).

Willing has the most people working from home (14.4%).

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	Independence	Willing
People
Population	756Lowest	1,616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY	42.9±3.3Highest 8% above NY
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.2%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±6.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	19.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	2.8%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Independence and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY	$68,778±$5kHighest 20% below NY
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$100,800±$27kHighest 76% below NY	$99,000±$17kLowest 77% below NY
	Independence and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY	$636±$166Highest 61% below NY
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Highest 60% below NY	$2,479Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	26.5%±61.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest NY: 14%	4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	23 minLowest 31% below NY
Work from home	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
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.