What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most homeowners (92.5%).

Waterloo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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	Smithfield	Waterloo
People
Population	1,240Lowest	7,324Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±9.9Lowest 11% above NY	45.4±3.1Highest 14% above NY
	Waterloo and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Smithfield and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.9%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Waterloo and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%	7.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$11kHighest 5% below NY	$63,226±$11kLowest 26% below NY
	Smithfield and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,500±$22kHighest 62% below NY	$117,500±$8kLowest 72% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$922±$39 43% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,329Highest 34% below NY	$3,396Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±94.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.6%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Waterloo and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%	10.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	65.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 34% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±8.2Highest NY: 14.9%	10.4%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Smithfield and Waterloo 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	—	#340 of 484 in NY
School district	MORRISVILLE-EATON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	MORRISVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL	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.