What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has the most people working from home (14.8%).

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	Waterville	Arcade
People
Population	1,731Lowest	4,210Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±4.5Lowest 13% above NY	46±3.7Highest 16% above NY
	Arcade and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Waterville and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±1.6 NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Arcade and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,273±$13kHighest 4% below NY	$62,011±$8kLowest 28% below NY
	Waterville and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,100±$12kHighest 60% below NY	$163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY
	Waterville and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$820±$132Highest 49% below NY	$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY
	Waterville and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,425Lowest 48% below NY	$4,172Highest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.4%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Arcade and Waterville 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%	11.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 34% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.