What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waddington has the most kids (25.5% under 18).

Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).

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	Waddington	Preble
People
Population	1,062Lowest	1,150Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±6.7Lowest 11% above NY	44.8±8.8Highest 13% above NY
	Preble and Waddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.5%±7.6Highest NY: 20.5%	21.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Waddington and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.6%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Preble and Waddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7%
	Preble and Waddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,750±$21kLowest 14% below NY	$82,083±$20kHighest 5% below NY
	Preble and Waddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,300±$21kHighest 57% below NY	$176,700±$27kLowest 58% below NY
	Waddington and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$337±$38Lowest 79% below NY	$1,278±$194Highest 21% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,988Lowest 39% below NY	$4,323Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±25.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest NY: 14%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	27 minHighest 16% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±5.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Preble and Waddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.