Compare towns
Rapids vs Clarence vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rapids has the most kids (26% under 18).
Clarence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Rapids | Clarence | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,655Lowest |
33,097Highest |
1,797 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% NY: +4.2% |
+7.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44±7.7 11% above NY |
49±2.4Highest 23% above NY |
43.8±6.1Lowest 10% above NY |
| Clarence and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±2.1 NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Rapids and Clarence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.8%±1.8 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Clarence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
55.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
47.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±0.9 NY: 7% |
9.3%±6.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Middlefield and Clarence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,875±$43k 42% above NY |
$124,800±$14kHighest 45% above NY |
$118,333±$25kLowest 38% above NY |
| Clarence and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,700±$44kLowest 30% below NY |
$408,500±$24kHighest 4% below NY |
$316,200±$43k 25% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,279±$205Highest 21% below NY |
$1,145±$104Lowest 29% below NY |
| Clarence and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,522 about the NY average |
$6,907Highest 5% above NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
39.9%±7.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
20.8%±19.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Clarence and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.5% NY: 14% |
6.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.2% NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 26 yrs newer than NY |
1989Highest 30 yrs newer than NY |
1979Lowest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 25% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
19 minLowest 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.1%±14.6 NY: 14.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Clarence and Rapids 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 | — | #28 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | CLARENCE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | CLARENCE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.