What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highland has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

Lumberland has the highest household income ($103k).

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	Highland	Lumberland
People
Population	2,234Highest	2,068Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-9.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±4.4Highest 39% above NY	52.3±2.8Lowest 31% above NY
	Highland and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±4Lowest NY: 20.5%	13.1%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lumberland and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Highland and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Highland and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,846±$26kLowest 26% below NY	$102,957±$22kHighest 20% above NY
	Lumberland and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,000±$38kLowest 40% below NY	$318,200±$20kHighest 25% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$1kHighest 25% below NY	$938±$147Lowest 42% below NY
	Highland and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,373Lowest 34% below NY	$5,123Highest 22% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.3%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Highland and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest NY: 14%	10%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	96.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 18% above NY	35 minLowest 7% above NY
Work from home	17.4%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	14.6%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Highland and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.