What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Pendleton	Marilla
People
Population	7,034Highest	5,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY	46.5±5.5Lowest 17% above NY
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY	$92,787±$23kLowest 8% above NY
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,300±$39kHighest 31% below NY	$286,400±$36kLowest 32% below NY
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$119Highest 39% below NY	$952±$95Lowest 41% below NY
	Pendleton and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,623Highest about the NY average	$5,098Lowest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±44.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Marilla and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest NY: 14%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 484 in NY	#258 of 484 in NY
School district	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.5	—
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.