What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fredonia has the most affordable homes ($193k median).

Highlands has the highest household income ($116k).

Fredonia is a college town. 28.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Fredonia	Highlands
People
Population	9,467Lowest	12,823Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.4±4.9Highest 19% below NY	31.1±2.9Lowest 22% below NY
	Fredonia and Highlands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.1%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.9%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	8.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	48.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	28.6%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	21.2%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,433±$9kLowest 41% below NY	$116,111±$11kHighest 35% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,500±$22kLowest 55% below NY	$337,700±$32kHighest 20% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$878±$64Lowest 46% below NY	$2,640±$193Highest 63% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,725Lowest 28% below NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.5%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%	55.1%±8.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Fredonia and Highlands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.2%Highest NY: 14%	4.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	43.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY	1957Highest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 48% below NY	19 minHighest 43% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Highlands and Fredonia 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	—	#168 of 484 in NY
School district	—	HIGHLAND FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	JAMES I O'NEILL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
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.