What stands out worked out from the figures below

Elma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Marilla has the most affordable homes ($286k 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	Elma	Marilla
People
Population	11,687Highest	5,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±4.6Lowest 10% above NY	46.5±5.5Highest 17% above NY
	Marilla and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,460±$12kHighest 35% above NY	$92,787±$23kLowest 8% above NY
	Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,900±$27kHighest 16% below NY	$286,400±$36kLowest 32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$952±$472 41% below NY	$952±$95 41% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 24% below NY	$5,098Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.9%±17Highest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±44.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest NY: 14%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 31% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	12.2%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#90 of 484 in NY	#258 of 484 in NY
School district	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
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.