Compare towns
Middlefield vs Rapids vs Hartwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Rapids has the most kids (26% under 18).
Hartwick has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
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 | Middlefield | Rapids | Hartwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,797 |
1,655Lowest |
2,143Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.8±6.1Lowest 10% above NY |
44±7.7 11% above NY |
49.3±5.4Highest 24% above NY |
| Hartwick and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
13%±3Lowest 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% |
20.5%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Hartwick 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% NY: 40.2% |
41.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±6.4Highest NY: 7% |
1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Middlefield and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,333±$25k 38% above NY |
$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY |
$81,196±$6kLowest 6% below 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±$44k 30% below NY |
$173,500±$36kLowest 59% 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±$104Highest 29% below NY |
— | $1,000±$174Lowest 38% below NY |
| Middlefield and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,037 54% below NY |
$6,522Highest about the NY average |
$2,912Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.8%±19.7 NY: 52.1% |
0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hartwick and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NY: 14% |
5%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NY: 54.3% |
90%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 40% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
18 minLowest 44% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.1%±14.6 NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hartwick and Rapids 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 | 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.