Compare towns
Willing vs Alma vs Watson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willing has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Alma has the oldest population (median age 52).
Watson has the most expensive homes ($161k median).
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 | Willing | Alma | Watson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616 |
644Lowest |
1,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.3Lowest 8% above NY |
52±7.6Highest 31% above NY |
43.7±5.4 10% above NY |
| Alma and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
11.5%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Willing and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±6.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
14.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
19.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.6 NY: 7% |
9.8%±8.6Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Alma and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,778±$5k 20% below NY |
$45,000±$13kLowest 48% below NY |
$68,864±$12kHighest 20% below NY |
| Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $99,000±$17k 77% below NY |
$84,200±$17kLowest 80% below NY |
$161,300±$18kHighest 62% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $636±$166Lowest 61% below NY |
— | $912±$194Highest 44% below NY |
| Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,479Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,569Highest 61% below NY |
$2,510 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.5%±61.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
47.8%±78.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
38.5%±40.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Alma and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NY: 14% |
21.9%Highest NY: 14% |
8.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 31% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.2%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.8%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| 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.