What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Palatine has the oldest population (median age 53.1).

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	Palatine
People
Population	1,963Lowest	3,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY	53.1±5.4Highest 33% above NY
Kids under 18	33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5%	15.8%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.2%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±1Lowest 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	$75,771±$6kHighest 12% below NY	$69,722±$12kLowest 19% 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	$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY	$142,500±$38kLowest 66% 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	$742±$310Highest 54% below NY	$633±$134Lowest 61% 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	$3,795Highest 42% below NY	$3,232Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±23.8Highest 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	6.5%Lowest NY: 14%	13.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±5.3Lowest 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.