Compare towns
Union vs Wheelock vs Vestal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Vestal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Vestal is a college town. 33.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Union | Wheelock | Vestal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,078Highest |
717Lowest |
30,978 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.2 6% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
26.3±2.7Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,713±$2kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$83,012±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Vestal and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $149,900±$5kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37k 43% below U.S. |
$193,500±$9kHighest 42% below U.S. |
| Vestal and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$37Lowest 34% below U.S. |
— | $1,199±$59Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,200 35% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,907Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vestal and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Vestal 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 | #199 of 484 in NY | — | #218 of 484 in NY |
| School district | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | VESTAL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | — | VESTAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.