What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington Heights has grown the fastest since 2010 (+30.6%).

Middletown has the most people working from home (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	Washington Heights	Middletown
People
Population	2,383Lowest	30,289Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+30.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	+8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.6±6.4Lowest 13% below NY	36.3±2.4Highest 9% below NY
	Middletown and Washington Heights are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.9%±9.4Highest NY: 20.5%	25.9%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Washington Heights and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	7.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	13.6%±1.8Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	5.2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,686±$37kHighest 5% below NY	$79,346±$8kLowest 8% below NY
	Washington Heights and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,700±$43kHighest 13% below NY	$308,600±$14kLowest 27% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,554±$447Highest 58% above NY	$1,661±$106Lowest about the NY average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,425Lowest about the NY average	$6,773Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.2%±37.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.3%±5.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Middletown and Washington Heights are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Lowest NY: 14%	13.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	51.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	36 minHighest 10% above NY
Work from home	2.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	6%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Middletown and Washington Heights 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	—	#150 of 484 in NY
School district	—	MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.