What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willing has the most people working from home (14.4%).

Independence has the most renters (16.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Willing	Independence
People
Population	1,616Highest	756Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.9±3.3Highest 8% above NY	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY
	Willing and Independence 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%	21.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±6.4Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%
	Independence 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±$5kHighest 20% below NY	$68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$99,000±$17kLowest 77% below NY	$100,800±$27kHighest 76% below NY
	Independence and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$636±$166Highest 61% below NY	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY
	Willing and Independence 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	$2,606Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.5%±61.3Highest NY: 52.1%	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Willing and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NY: 14%	6.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	14.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.