What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highland has the most people working from home (17.4%).

Rensselaerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Rensselaerville
People
Population	2,234Highest	1,901Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±4.4Highest 39% above NY	54±3.3Lowest 36% above NY
	Highland and Rensselaerville 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%	14%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Rensselaerville and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±6Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville and Highland 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%	40.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Highland and Rensselaerville 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	$90,324±$26kHighest 5% above NY
	Rensselaerville 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	$259,800±$36kHighest 39% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$1kLowest 25% below NY	$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Highland 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	$5,247Highest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.3%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±61.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Highland and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest NY: 14%	0.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 18% above NY	38 minLowest 16% above NY
Work from home	17.4%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Highland and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
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.