What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rush has the most homeowners (95.9%).

Highlands has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Rush	Highlands
People
Population	3,464Lowest	12,823Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.2±4.4Highest 36% above NY	31.1±2.9Lowest 22% below NY
Kids under 18	17%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.1%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Highlands and Rush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9%	8.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	48.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	21.2%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,519±$24kHighest 43% above NY	$116,111±$11kLowest 35% above NY
	Rush and Highlands are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$264,600±$43kLowest 38% below NY	$337,700±$32kHighest 20% below NY
	Highlands and Rush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$771±$78Lowest 52% below NY	$2,640±$193Highest 63% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,294Lowest 4% below NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±47.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.1%±8.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Highlands and Rush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest NY: 14%	4.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	43.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 36% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	23.8%±11Highest NY: 14.9%	17.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Rush and Highlands 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	#53 of 484 in NY	#168 of 484 in NY
School district	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · RUSH-HENRIETTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HIGHLAND FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	INDUSTRY LIMITED SECURE SCHOOL	JAMES I O'NEILL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
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.