Compare towns
Rapids vs Wright vs Otisco vs Nelson
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 highest household income ($122k).
Wright has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Otisco has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Rapids | Wright | Otisco | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,655Lowest |
1,739 |
2,545Highest |
1,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44±7.7 11% above NY |
51.4±4.7Highest 29% above NY |
42.2±4.7Lowest 6% above NY |
47.2±6.2 19% above NY |
| Wright and Nelson 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% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.6%±5.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±8 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+ | 17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Wright and Otisco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
40% NY: 40.2% |
46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.1 NY: 7% |
6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Nelson and Otisco 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 |
$86,250±$13k about the NY average |
$83,950±$17k about the NY average |
$82,063±$18kLowest 5% below NY |
| Rapids and Wright 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 |
$242,000±$36k 43% below NY |
$263,900±$18k 38% below NY |
$230,000±$18kLowest 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 | — | $953±$79 41% below NY |
$964±$92Highest 41% below NY |
$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
| Otisco and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,522Highest about the NY average |
$5,279 20% below NY |
$5,368 18% below NY |
$3,990Lowest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
17.8%±31.4 NY: 52.1% |
22.2%±40.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Wright and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
7.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88% NY: 54.3% |
86.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1983 24 yrs newer than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 18% below NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.1%±14.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.9%±3.7 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±6.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Rapids and Nelson 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 | 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.