Compare towns
Highlands vs Cornwall vs Oneonta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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%).
Oneonta has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Oneonta is a college town. 37.8% 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.
| Measure | Highlands | Cornwall | Oneonta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,823 |
12,755Lowest |
15,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.9% NY: +4.2% |
-5.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 31.1±2.9 22% below NY |
42.3±2.7Highest 6% above NY |
23.1±1Lowest 42% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.5%±3 NY: 20.5% |
9.3%±1.7Lowest 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% |
14.1%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% NY: 40.2% |
49.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
47.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.2%±2.2 NY: 7% |
4.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
37.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,111±$11kHighest 35% above NY |
$114,635±$11k 33% above NY |
$61,111±$4kLowest 29% below 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±$32k 20% below NY |
$444,800±$27kHighest 5% above NY |
$184,100±$12kLowest 57% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,640±$193Highest 63% above NY |
$1,803±$124 11% above NY |
$1,021±$66Lowest 37% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$3,600Lowest 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±8.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.6%±11.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.9%±10.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Highlands and Oneonta 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% NY: 14% |
16.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
46% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 43% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
15 minLowest 53% below NY |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
16.1%±3.1 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.1Lowest 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 | #178 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HIGHLAND FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CORNWALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ONEONTA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | JAMES I O'NEILL HIGH SCHOOL | CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | ONEONTA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
13.3Highest |
9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.