Compare towns

Arcade vs Freedom vs Central Square

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).
Freedom has the most homeowners (88.9%).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

MeasureArcadeFreedomCentral Square
People
Population
1,915Lowest
2,483Highest
2,163
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-6%
NY: +4.2%
+0.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.7±4.6Highest
12% above NY
43.2±7Lowest
9% above NY
43.3±8
9% above NY
Arcade and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.9%±3.7Lowest
NY: 20.5%
18.6%±4.3
NY: 20.5%
19.7%±4.7Highest
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%±4.1Highest
NY: 17.9%
16.6%±2.9Lowest
NY: 17.9%
16.8%±4.1
NY: 17.9%
Arcade and Central Square 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%
15.5%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
26.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.5%±6.5Highest
NY: 7%
3.9%±2.8Lowest
NY: 7%
4.5%±2.3
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
$73,646±$24kHighest
14% below NY
$69,500±$23k
19% below NY
Freedom and Central Square 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
$176,900±$19k
58% below NY
$196,000±$20kHighest
54% 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
$519±$219Lowest
68% below NY
$908±$91Highest
44% below NY
Central Square and Arcade 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
$3,443Lowest
48% below NY
$5,756Highest
13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.7%±14
NY: 52.1%
10.1%±32.5Lowest
NY: 52.1%
44%±13.7Highest
NY: 52.1%
Central Square and Arcade 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%
7%Lowest
NY: 14%
15.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
88.9%Highest
NY: 54.3%
54.8%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Lowest
3 yrs newer than NY
1982Highest
23 yrs newer than NY
1979
20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
14% below NY
28 min
15% below NY
26 minLowest
21% below NY
Work from home
6.3%±4.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
6.9%±2.9
NY: 14.9%
13.3%±6.7Highest
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

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.