What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marilla has the most expensive homes ($286k median).

Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Marilla	Arcade
People
Population	5,148Highest	4,210Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.5±5.5Highest 17% above NY	46±3.7Lowest 16% above NY
	Marilla and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Arcade and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Marilla and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Arcade and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,787±$23kHighest 8% above NY	$62,011±$8kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,400±$36kHighest 32% below NY	$163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$952±$95Highest 41% below NY	$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY
	Marilla and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,098Highest 23% below NY	$4,172Lowest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±44.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.4%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Arcade and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%	11.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Arcade 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	#258 of 484 in NY	#260 of 484 in NY
School district	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.