What stands out worked out from the figures below

Central Square has the most people working from home (13.3%).

Arcade has the most affordable homes ($172k 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	Central Square	Arcade
People
Population	2,163Highest	1,915Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY	44.7±4.6Highest 12% 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	19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.1Highest 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+	26.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%	8.5%±6.5Highest 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	$69,500±$23kHighest 19% below NY	$58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY
	Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$20kHighest 54% below NY	$172,300±$19kLowest 59% below NY
	Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$91Highest 44% below NY	$805±$176Lowest 50% 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	$5,756Highest 13% below NY	$3,938Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1%	42.7%±14Lowest 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	15.1%Lowest NY: 14%	17.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	28 minHighest 14% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%	6.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Central Square 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.