What stands out worked out from the figures below

Champion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).

Arcade has the most homeowners (73.6%).

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	Champion	Arcade
People
Population	4,530Highest	4,210Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40±3Lowest about the NY average	46±3.7Highest 16% above NY
	Arcade and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Champion and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Arcade and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Arcade and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,875±$13kLowest 34% below NY	$62,011±$8kHighest 28% below NY
	Arcade and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,900±$16kHighest 53% below NY	$163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,054±$255Highest 35% below NY	$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY
	Champion and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,247Lowest 51% below NY	$4,172Highest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1%	40.4%±13.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Champion and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19%Highest NY: 14%	11.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 38% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	8.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Champion 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	#309 of 484 in NY	#260 of 484 in NY
School district	CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
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.