What stands out worked out from the figures below

Galen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Marilla has the most expensive 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	Galen	Marilla
People
Population	4,369Lowest	5,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.7±5.2Lowest 5% below NY	46.5±5.5Highest 17% above NY
	Marilla and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.8%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Marilla and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Galen and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,177±$7kLowest 25% below NY	$92,787±$23kHighest 8% above NY
	Marilla and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$95,400±$15kLowest 77% below NY	$286,400±$36kHighest 32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$286Lowest 47% below NY	$952±$95Highest 41% below NY
	Marilla and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,693Lowest 59% below NY	$5,098Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±25.8Highest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±44.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Galen and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.5%Highest NY: 14%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	8.1%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Galen and Marilla 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	#475 of 484 in NY	#258 of 484 in NY
School district	CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CLYDE-SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
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.