What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highlands has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Cornwall has the most homeowners (73.2%).

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	Highlands	Cornwall
People
Population	12,823Highest	12,755Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31.1±2.9Lowest 22% below NY	42.3±2.7Highest 6% above NY
Kids under 18	23.1%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%	21.5%±3Lowest 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+	8.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	19%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	49.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.2%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	4.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,111±$11kHighest 35% above NY	$114,635±$11kLowest 33% 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	$337,700±$32kLowest 20% below NY	$444,800±$27kHighest 5% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,640±$193Highest 63% above NY	$1,803±$124Lowest 11% 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	55.1%±8.4Highest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±11.6Lowest 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	4.5%Lowest NY: 14%	5.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	17.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%	16.1%±3.1Lowest 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	#168 of 484 in NY	#29 of 484 in NY
School district	HIGHLAND FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORNWALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	JAMES I O'NEILL HIGH SCHOOL	CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2Lowest	13.3Highest
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.