What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rapids has the most kids (26% under 18).

Westmoreland has the most affordable homes ($238k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rapids	Westmoreland
People
Population	1,655Lowest	5,892Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44±7.7Lowest 11% above NY	47±8.7Highest 18% above NY
	Westmoreland 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%	19.7%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Rapids and Westmoreland 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%	21.5%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Westmoreland and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	30.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2Lowest NY: 7%	2%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Westmoreland and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY	$105,333±$10kLowest 23% above NY
	Rapids and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,700±$44kHighest 30% below NY	$238,100±$20kLowest 44% below NY
	Rapids and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$874±$187 46% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,522Highest about the NY average	$3,685Lowest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	20.3%±31.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Westmoreland and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest NY: 14%	3.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	18.1%±14.6Highest NY: 14.9%	16.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Rapids and Westmoreland 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	—	#124 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WESTMORELAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	DONALD H CRANE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.