What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arcadia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).

Palmyra has the most people working from home (7.3%).

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	Arcadia	Palmyra
People
Population	13,601Highest	7,354Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±3.1Highest 10% above NY	40.8±2.6Lowest about the NY average
	Arcadia and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%	20%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Arcadia and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Palmyra and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Palmyra and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,398±$5kLowest 26% below NY	$67,113±$7kHighest 22% below NY
	Palmyra and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$148,400±$12kLowest 65% below NY	$152,200±$12kHighest 64% below NY
	Palmyra and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,002±$86Highest 38% below NY	$941±$51Lowest 42% below NY
	Arcadia and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 40% below NY	$3,938Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±11.5Highest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±15.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Arcadia and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.9%Highest NY: 14%	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	70.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	6.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.3%±2.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Palmyra and Arcadia 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	#301 of 484 in NY	#55 of 484 in NY
School district	NEWARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PALMYRA-MACEDON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	NEWARK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	PALMYRA-MACEDON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	9.9Highest
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.