What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marshall has the highest household income ($101k).

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	Root	Marshall
People
Population	1,963Lowest	2,163Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY	37.5±2.8Highest 6% below NY
	Marshall and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5%	27.6%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Root and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	12.1%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Marshall and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Root and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,771±$6kLowest 12% below NY	$101,250±$32kHighest 18% above NY
	Marshall and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,000±$29kLowest 51% below NY	$212,400±$18kHighest 50% below NY
	Marshall and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY	$1,039±$151Highest 36% below NY
	Marshall and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,795Highest 42% below NY	$3,595Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	26.5%±28.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Marshall and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest NY: 14%	6.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Root and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.