What stands out worked out from the figures below

Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).

Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Afton	Arcade
People
Population	2,733Lowest	4,210Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY	46±3.7Lowest 16% above NY
	Afton and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Afton and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Afton and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY	$62,011±$8kHighest 28% below NY
	Arcade and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY	$163,900±$15kHighest 61% below NY
	Arcade and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$826±$212Highest 49% below NY	$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY
	Afton and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,395Lowest 48% below NY	$4,172Highest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1%	40.4%±13.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Afton and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest NY: 14%	11.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Arcade and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#418 of 484 in NY	#260 of 484 in NY
School district	AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	6.7	—
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.