Compare towns
Oneida vs Middlesex vs Herkimer vs Waterloo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oneida has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Herkimer has the most renters (40.4% rent).
Waterloo has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
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 | Oneida | Middlesex | Herkimer | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,171Highest |
1,943Lowest |
9,534 |
7,324 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±3.4 17% above U.S. |
45.4±3.1 17% above U.S. |
| Oneida and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterloo and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterloo and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,597±$6k 24% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$56,287±$14kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$63,226±$11k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,100±$9k 52% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$136,300±$22k 59% below U.S. |
$117,500±$8kLowest 65% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $903±$77 36% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$820±$74Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$922±$39 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,778 21% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,453 11% above U.S. |
$3,396Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oneida and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 484 in NY | — | #363 of 484 in NY | #340 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL | WATERLOO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.0 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.