What stands out worked out from the figures below

Watson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).

Erin has the most kids (23% under 18).

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	Watson	Erin
People
Population	1,976Highest	1,912Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±5.4Lowest 10% above NY	43.9±3.8Highest 10% above NY
	Erin and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	23%±5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Erin and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Erin and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,864±$12kHighest 20% below NY	$66,583±$8kLowest 23% below NY
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,300±$18kHighest 62% below NY	$133,400±$27kLowest 69% below NY
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$912±$194Highest 44% below NY	$747±$305Lowest 54% below NY
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,510Lowest 62% below NY	$3,396Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±40.6Highest NY: 52.1%	25%±68.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Watson and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	31 minLowest 6% below NY
Work from home	4.8%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%	4.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Watson and Erin 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.