Compare towns
Union vs Waterville vs Niagara Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Niagara Falls has the most affordable homes ($115k median).
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 | Union | Waterville | Niagara Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,078Highest |
680Lowest |
47,987 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.2 6% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.8±1.3Lowest 5% 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%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Niagara Falls and Waterville 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% |
18.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1Lowest 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±$2k 24% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$49,101±$2kLowest 39% 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±$5k 55% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$115,300±$6kLowest 65% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$37 34% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$823±$33Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,200Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$2,786Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Niagara Falls and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±1.6Lowest 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 | — | #427 of 484 in NY |
| School district | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | NIAGARA FALLS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 15.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.