What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	Union	Waterville
People
Population	55,078Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.2Lowest 6% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Waterville and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,713±$2kLowest 24% below U.S.	$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Waterville and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$149,900±$5kLowest 55% below U.S.	$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$936±$37Lowest 34% below U.S.	$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,200Highest 35% above U.S.	$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Union and Waterville 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	#199 of 484 in NY	—
School district	UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town	UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.