Compare towns

Cornwall vs Highlands

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the most homeowners (73.2%).
Highlands has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureCornwallHighlands
People
Population
12,755Lowest
12,823Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+3.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
42.3±2.7Highest
6% above NY
31.1±2.9Lowest
22% below NY
Kids under 18
21.5%±3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
23.1%±2.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
Highlands and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±2.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
8.2%±1.9Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.4%Highest
NY: 40.2%
48.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.9Lowest
NY: 7%
21.2%±2.2Highest
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,635±$11kLowest
33% above NY
$116,111±$11kHighest
35% above NY
Highlands and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$444,800±$27kHighest
5% above NY
$337,700±$32kLowest
20% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$124Lowest
11% above NY
$2,640±$193Highest
63% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 52% above NY
$10,000+
at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±11.6Lowest
NY: 52.1%
55.1%±8.4Highest
NY: 52.1%
Highlands and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Highest
NY: 14%
4.5%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
43.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Highest
1 yr newer than NY
1957Lowest
2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
5% below NY
19 minLowest
43% below NY
Work from home
16.1%±3.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
17.7%±3.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
Highlands and Cornwall 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 #29 of 484 in NY #168 of 484 in NY
School district CORNWALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HIGHLAND FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL JAMES I O'NEILL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
13.3Highest
9.2Lowest
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.