Compare towns
Arcade vs Central Square vs Sheldon vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Freedom has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Arcade | Central Square | Sheldon | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,915Lowest |
2,163 |
2,216 |
2,483Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.7±4.6 12% above NY |
43.3±8 9% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
43.2±7Lowest 9% above NY |
| Sheldon and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Central Square and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5% NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
15.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY |
$69,500±$23k 19% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$73,646±$24kHighest 14% below NY |
| Freedom and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,300±$19kLowest 59% below NY |
$196,000±$20kHighest 54% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
| Central Square and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $805±$176 50% below NY |
$908±$91Highest 44% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
| Central Square and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 40% below NY |
$5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,443 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
10.1%±32.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
15.1% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
54.8% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
88.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 min 15% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.3%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square and Freedom 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 | 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.