What stands out worked out from the figures below

Virgil has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).

Arcade has the most affordable homes ($164k 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	Virgil	Arcade
People
Population	2,525Lowest	4,210Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.8±2.5Lowest 13% above NY	46±3.7Highest 16% above NY
	Arcade and Virgil are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Virgil and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Arcade and Virgil are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Arcade and Virgil are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,094±$21kHighest 6% above NY	$62,011±$8kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,600±$32kHighest 42% below NY	$163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$159Highest 25% below NY	$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,188Highest 36% below NY	$4,172Lowest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	8.9%±19.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.4%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Arcade and Virgil are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest NY: 14%	11.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Virgil and Arcade 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	—	#260 of 484 in NY
School district	—	YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school 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.