What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Rapids has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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	Middlefield	Rapids
People
Population	1,797Highest	1,655Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±6.1Lowest 10% above NY	44±7.7Highest 11% above NY
	Rapids and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Rapids and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%	17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Middlefield and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	42.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.3%±6.4Highest NY: 7%	1%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Middlefield and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,333±$25kLowest 38% above NY	$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY
	Rapids and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,200±$43kHighest 25% below NY	$294,700±$44kLowest 30% below NY
	Middlefield and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,145±$104 29% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY	$6,522Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.8%±19.7Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Middlefield and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest NY: 14%	5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 20 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 40% below NY	25 minHighest 25% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.1%±14.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Rapids and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.