Compare towns
Rush vs Highlands vs Wheatland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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%).
Wheatland has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Rush | Highlands | Wheatland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,464Lowest |
12,823Highest |
4,857 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 54.2±4.4Highest 36% above NY |
31.1±2.9Lowest 22% below NY |
42±4.5 6% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.1%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.7%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Highlands and Wheatland 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% |
16.9%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
48.3% NY: 40.2% |
43.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
21.2%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,519±$24kHighest 43% above NY |
$116,111±$11k 35% above NY |
$82,538±$15kLowest 4% below 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±$43k 38% below NY |
$337,700±$32kHighest 20% below NY |
$183,100±$15kLowest 57% 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 |
$1,153±$148 29% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,294 4% below NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$5,568Lowest 15% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±47.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.1%±8.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
36%±17.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Highlands and Wheatland 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% NY: 14% |
11.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
43.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
67.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 36% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.8%±11Highest NY: 14.9% |
17.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±3Lowest 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 | #306 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 | WHEATLAND-CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | INDUSTRY LIMITED SECURE SCHOOL | JAMES I O'NEILL HIGH SCHOOL | WHEATLAND-CHILI HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
9.3Highest |
| 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.