What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has the most people working from home (14.8%).

Eagle has the most homeowners (80.6%).

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	Eagle
People
Population	1,731Highest	1,231Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY	37.8±12.6Lowest 5% below NY
	Waterville and Eagle 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%	26.1%±9.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Eagle 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%	16.7%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	2.8%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Eagle 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	$72,778±$19kLowest 15% below NY
	Waterville and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,100±$12kHighest 60% below NY	$148,900±$41kLowest 65% below NY
	Waterville and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$820±$132Highest 49% below NY	$736±$101Lowest 55% below NY
	Waterville and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,425Highest 48% below NY	$2,753Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.7%±33Highest NY: 52.1%
	Eagle 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%	14.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 34% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±6.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Waterville and Eagle 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.