What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arkwright has the most expensive homes ($171k median).

Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k median).

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	Arkwright	Massena
People
Population	859Lowest	10,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 28% above NY	42.6±4.7Lowest 7% above NY
	Arkwright and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.4%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Massena and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	20.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Arkwright and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Arkwright and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,000±$26kHighest 8% above NY	$51,458±$7kLowest 40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,900±$30kHighest 60% below NY	$94,400±$15kLowest 78% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$689Highest 46% below NY	$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY
	Arkwright and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,760Highest 43% below NY	$3,218Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±65.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Massena and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%	24.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	6%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Arkwright and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.