Compare towns
Smithfield vs Waterloo vs Lindley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($162k median).
Waterloo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).
Lindley has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Smithfield | Waterloo | Lindley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
7,324Highest |
1,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.9Lowest 11% above NY |
45.4±3.1 14% above NY |
46.3±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
| Lindley and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.4%±2.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lindley and Smithfield 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% |
21.2%±0.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 7% |
7.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.1%±2 NY: 7% |
| Waterloo and Lindley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$11k 5% below NY |
$63,226±$11kLowest 26% below NY |
$86,518±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Lindley and Smithfield 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 |
$156,500±$15k 63% below NY |
| Smithfield and Lindley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $922±$39Lowest 43% below NY |
$1,571±$965Highest 3% below NY |
| Lindley and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329Highest 34% below NY |
$3,396Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,885 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±94.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
47.6%±11.9 NY: 52.1% |
52.2%±46.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Lindley and Waterloo 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% |
6.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% NY: 54.3% |
65.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 34% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
29 minHighest 11% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±8.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.4%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±9.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| 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 | 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.