What stands out worked out from the figures below

Varick has the most expensive homes ($267k median).

Fayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.9%).

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	Varick	Fayette
People
Population	1,724Lowest	3,607Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY	39.4±5.1Highest about the NY average
	Fayette and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	24.2%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Varick and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.7%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Fayette and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Fayette and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY	$77,875±$25kLowest 9% below NY
	Varick and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY	$173,900±$29kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY	$1,215±$532Lowest 25% below NY
	Varick and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Highest 30% below NY	$3,814Lowest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.6%±36.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	35.9%±28Highest NY: 52.1%
	Fayette and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest NY: 14%	9.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 29% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Varick and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.