What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palatine has the oldest population (median age 53.1).

Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).

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	Palatine	Root
People
Population	3,200Highest	1,963Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.1±5.4Highest 33% above NY	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY
Kids under 18	15.8%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%	33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	30.2%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%	10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7%
	Root and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,722±$12kLowest 19% below NY	$75,771±$6kHighest 12% below NY
	Root and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$142,500±$38kLowest 66% below NY	$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY
	Root and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$633±$134Lowest 61% below NY	$742±$310Highest 54% below NY
	Root and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,232Lowest 51% below NY	$3,795Highest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±23.8Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Palatine and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest NY: 14%	6.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 24% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.7%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Root and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.