What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has the highest household income ($82k).

Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Waterville	Central Square
People
Population	1,731Lowest	2,163Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY	43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY
	Waterville and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%	16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Waterville and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,273±$13kHighest 4% below NY	$69,500±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Waterville and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,100±$12kLowest 60% below NY	$196,000±$20kHighest 54% below NY
	Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$820±$132Lowest 49% below NY	$908±$91Highest 44% below NY
	Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,425Lowest 48% below NY	$5,756Highest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%	15.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	54.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 34% below NY	26 minHighest 21% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	13.3%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Waterville and Central Square 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.