What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palatine has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).

Waterloo has the most people working from home (13.2%).

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	Waterloo
People
Population	3,200Lowest	4,605Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.1±5.4Highest 33% above NY	50.8±4.5Lowest 28% above NY
	Palatine and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.9%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Waterloo and Palatine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%	29.4%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Palatine and Waterloo 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%	23.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1Lowest NY: 7%	4.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Waterloo 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±$12kHighest 19% below NY	$51,642±$9kLowest 40% below NY
	Palatine and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$142,500±$38kHighest 66% below NY	$114,300±$7kLowest 73% below NY
	Palatine and Waterloo 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	$927±$49Highest 43% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,232Lowest 51% below NY	$3,772Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±23.8Highest NY: 52.1%	43.6%±13.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Palatine and Waterloo 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%	11.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 24% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	9.7%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±7.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterloo 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.