What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highland has the oldest population (median age 55.4).

Tusten has the most people working from home (27.9%).

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	Tusten
People
Population	2,234Highest	1,539Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-7.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±4.4Highest 39% above NY	48.8±4.1Lowest 23% above NY
	Highland and Tusten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	11.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Highland and Tusten 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%	18.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Highland and Tusten 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%	45.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 7%	5%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Tusten and Highland 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	$75,893±$21kHighest 12% below NY
	Tusten 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	$263,800±$25kHighest 38% below NY
	Tusten and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$1kHighest 25% below NY	$915±$140Lowest 44% below NY
	Highland and Tusten 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	$5,895Highest 10% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.3%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	24%±17.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Highland and Tusten 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%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minLowest 18% above NY	39 minHighest 19% above NY
Work from home	17.4%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	27.9%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Tusten and Highland 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 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.