Compare towns
Otisco vs Rapids vs LaFayette
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otisco has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Rapids has the most expensive homes ($295k median).
LaFayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Otisco | Rapids | LaFayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,545 |
1,655Lowest |
4,878Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.2±4.7Lowest 6% above NY |
44±7.7 11% above NY |
45.5±5.8Highest 14% above NY |
| LaFayette and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±5.5 NY: 20.5% |
26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17%±5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Rapids and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| LaFayette and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.5% NY: 40.2% |
43.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±3Highest NY: 7% |
| LaFayette and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,950±$17kLowest about the NY average |
$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY |
$113,750±$21k 32% above NY |
| Rapids and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,900±$18k 38% below NY |
$294,700±$44kHighest 30% below NY |
$228,600±$16kLowest 46% below NY |
| Rapids and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $964±$92Lowest 41% below NY |
— | $1,298±$123Highest 20% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,368 18% below NY |
$6,522Highest about the NY average |
$4,836Lowest 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±31.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
13.5%±17.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Otisco and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest NY: 14% |
5% NY: 14% |
4.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% NY: 54.3% |
90%Highest NY: 54.3% |
78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1980 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 18% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
22 minLowest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.1%±14.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±7.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Rapids and LaFayette 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 | — | — | #331 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | LAFAYETTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | LA FAYETTE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.