What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

Marilla has the most expensive 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	Wales	Marilla
People
Population	3,015Lowest	5,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY	46.5±5.5Highest 17% above NY
	Marilla and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wales and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Wales and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Marilla and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,590±$19kLowest 3% above NY	$92,787±$23kHighest 8% above NY
	Marilla and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,800±$33kLowest 42% below NY	$286,400±$36kHighest 32% below NY
	Marilla and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$950±$503Lowest 41% below NY	$952±$95Highest 41% below NY
	Marilla and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,782Lowest 27% below NY	$5,098Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.5%±27.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±44.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Marilla and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Highest NY: 14%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	7.2%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wales 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	#321 of 484 in NY	#258 of 484 in NY
School district	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS 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.