What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheatland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Wheatland	Marilla
People
Population	4,857Lowest	5,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±4.5Lowest 6% above NY	46.5±5.5Highest 17% above NY
	Marilla and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wheatland and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Marilla and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Wheatland and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,538±$15kLowest 4% below NY	$92,787±$23kHighest 8% above NY
	Marilla and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,100±$15kLowest 57% below NY	$286,400±$36kHighest 32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$148Highest 29% below NY	$952±$95Lowest 41% below NY
	Wheatland and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,568Highest 15% below NY	$5,098Lowest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±17.2Highest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±44.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wheatland and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest NY: 14%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	10.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wheatland 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	#306 of 484 in NY	#258 of 484 in NY
School district	WHEATLAND-CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	WHEATLAND-CHILI HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
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.