What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.9%).

Wethersfield has the highest household income ($96k).

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	Arcade	Wethersfield
People
Population	1,915Highest	815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.7±4.6Lowest 12% above NY	46±4.4Highest 16% above NY
	Wethersfield and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wethersfield and Arcade 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%	13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7%	4.2%±3.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Arcade and Wethersfield 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	$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,300±$19kHighest 59% below NY	$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$805±$176Lowest 50% below NY	$916±$126Highest 43% below NY
	Wethersfield and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Highest 40% below NY	$2,787Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±14Highest NY: 52.1%	30.2%±38.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Arcade and Wethersfield 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%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	6.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.8%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wethersfield and Arcade 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.