Compare towns
Johnstown vs Oneida vs Scriba vs Waterloo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnstown has the youngest population (median age 44).
Oneida has the oldest population (median age 47).
Scriba has the highest household income ($92k).
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.
| Measure | Johnstown | Oneida | Scriba | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,111 |
10,171Highest |
6,603Lowest |
7,324 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% NY: +4.2% |
-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44±4.8Lowest 11% above NY |
47±2.4Highest 18% above NY |
46.3±3.1 16% above NY |
45.4±3.1 14% above NY |
| Oneida and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
19%±2.4 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Scriba and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.9 NY: 17.9% |
21%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
18%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.9%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterloo and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.3% NY: 40.2% |
25.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.2 NY: 7% |
1.2%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
7.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,763±$9k 26% below NY |
$61,597±$6kLowest 28% below NY |
$92,036±$17kHighest 7% above NY |
$63,226±$11k 26% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,800±$11k 63% below NY |
$160,100±$9kHighest 62% below NY |
$158,700±$10k 63% below NY |
$117,500±$8kLowest 72% below NY |
| Oneida and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$43 44% below NY |
$903±$77Lowest 44% below NY |
$980±$67Highest 40% below NY |
$922±$39 43% below NY |
| Scriba and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,613 45% below NY |
$3,778Highest 43% below NY |
$3,649 45% below NY |
$3,396Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.2%±12Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.2%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±13.4 NY: 52.1% |
47.6%±11.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Oneida and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.3%Highest NY: 14% |
10.3% NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
61.9% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
1946 13 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 42% below NY |
19 min 41% below NY |
21 min 34% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
8%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.4%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterloo and Oneida 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 | #403 of 484 in NY | #106 of 484 in NY | — | #340 of 484 in NY |
| School district | JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL | ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | WATERLOO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.4 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.