What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marion has the most expensive homes ($159k median).

Afton has the most people working from home (7.2%).

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	Marion	Afton
People
Population	1,400Highest	1,225Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.3±9.7Highest 6% above NY	38.4±5Lowest 4% below NY
	Marion and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±8.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.2%±5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Afton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±8.6Highest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Marion and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	12.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Afton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$42,865±$25kHighest 50% below NY	$37,031±$19kLowest 57% below NY
	Marion and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,800±$25kHighest 63% below NY	$115,600±$17kLowest 73% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$297Lowest 62% below NY	$800±$219Highest 51% below NY
	Afton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,722Highest 43% below NY	$3,641Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±21.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	66.5%±14.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Afton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%	15.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	59.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 9 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	1.9%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.2%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Afton and Marion 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	#194 of 484 in NY	#418 of 484 in NY
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.