What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seneca Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

Waterloo has the most people working from home (10.4%).

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	Seneca Falls	Waterloo
People
Population	8,982Highest	7,324Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.4±1.8Highest 17% above NY	45.4±3.1Lowest 14% above NY
	Seneca Falls and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Waterloo and Seneca Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.9%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Waterloo and Seneca Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%	7.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
	Waterloo and Seneca Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,487±$11kLowest 27% below NY	$63,226±$11kHighest 26% below NY
	Waterloo and Seneca Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$137,100±$20kHighest 68% below NY	$117,500±$8kLowest 72% below NY
	Seneca Falls and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$955±$49Highest 41% below NY	$922±$39Lowest 43% below NY
	Seneca Falls and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,383Lowest 49% below NY	$3,396Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.2%±10.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.6%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Waterloo and Seneca Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.9%Highest NY: 14%	10.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64%Lowest NY: 54.3%	65.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956 3 yrs older than NY	1956 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 47% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.4%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterloo and Seneca Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#163 of 484 in NY	#340 of 484 in NY
School district	SENECA FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	MYNDERSE ACADEMY	WATERLOO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	9.0Lowest
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.