What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vestal has the youngest population (median age 26.3).

Henrietta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Vestal	Henrietta
People
Population	30,978Lowest	48,065Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+10.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	26.3±2.7Lowest 34% below NY	34.2±1.3Highest 14% below NY
Kids under 18	17%±2.2Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±1.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Vestal and Henrietta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%	16.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Vestal and Henrietta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.1%±2Highest NY: 7%	22.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,012±$8kLowest 3% below NY	$85,943±$5kHighest about the NY average
	Henrietta and Vestal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$193,500±$9kLowest 54% below NY	$223,700±$7kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,199±$59Lowest 26% below NY	$1,344±$81Highest 17% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,907Lowest 25% below NY	$5,155Highest 22% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±9.2Highest NY: 52.1%	52.6%±6.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Vestal and Henrietta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%	12.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	69.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 42% below NY	18 minLowest 46% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	15%±2.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Henrietta 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	#218 of 484 in NY	#130 of 484 in NY
School district	VESTAL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	RUSH-HENRIETTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	VESTAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	RUSH-HENRIETTA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.