Manhattan and Watertown-Fort Drum receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Manhattan | Watertown-Fort Drum | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 133,965 | 115,040 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,469 | $66,301 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,818 | $36,025 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 73/sq mi | 91/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $223,700 | $188,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,063 | $1,213 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.0% | 54.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.3% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.4% | 26.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 13.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 438 | 270 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 2.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.5% | 37.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 10°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.2" | 37.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 53 mi | 61 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 20.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 27.3 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Manhattan
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave.
Watertown-Fort Drum
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Manhattan, KS Metro Area · Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology