What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amboy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Arcade has the most people working from home (6.3%).

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	Amboy	Arcade
People
Population	1,286Lowest	1,915Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40±10.2Lowest about the NY average	44.7±4.6Highest 12% above NY
	Arcade and Amboy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.5%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Amboy and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7%
	Arcade and Amboy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,234±$17kHighest 24% below NY	$58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY
	Amboy and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,800±$21kLowest 71% below NY	$172,300±$19kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$944±$65Highest 42% below NY	$805±$176Lowest 50% below NY
	Amboy and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,243Lowest 51% below NY	$3,938Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±36Highest NY: 52.1%	42.7%±14Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Amboy and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.7%Highest NY: 14%	17.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 4% below NY	28 minLowest 14% below NY
Work from home	2.9%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.3%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Arcade and Amboy 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	—	#260 of 484 in NY
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.