Compare towns
Waterville vs Central Square vs Arcade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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%).
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | Waterville | Central Square | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,731Lowest |
2,163Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY |
43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
44.7±4.6 12% above NY |
| Waterville and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest 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%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Arcade and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Central Square 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±$23k 19% below NY |
$58,695±$4kLowest 32% 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 |
$172,300±$19k 59% below NY |
| Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $820±$132 49% below NY |
$908±$91Highest 44% below NY |
$805±$176Lowest 50% 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 |
$3,938 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Arcade 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% NY: 14% |
17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% NY: 54.3% |
54.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 34% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
28 minHighest 14% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Central Square 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 | — | — | #260 of 484 in NY |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.