What stands out worked out from the figures below

LaGrange has the most expensive homes ($409k median).

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

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	LaGrange	Elma
People
Population	16,384Highest	11,687Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.3±1.6Lowest 4% above NY	43.8±4.6Highest 10% above NY
	Elma and LaGrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	44%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,586±$10kHighest 41% above NY	$116,460±$12kLowest 35% above NY
	LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,600±$20kHighest 4% below NY	$357,900±$27kLowest 16% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,455±$1kHighest 10% below NY	$952±$472Lowest 41% below NY
	LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,104Highest 38% above NY	$4,999Lowest 24% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±20.1Highest NY: 52.1%	29.9%±17Lowest NY: 52.1%
	LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest NY: 14%	3.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	22 minLowest 31% below NY
Work from home	10.2%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Elma and LaGrange 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	#81 of 484 in NY	#90 of 484 in NY
School district	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL	IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.