Washington Heights’ median rent is $2,554 a month, above both New York’s towns ($1,101 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Among 759 New York towns, just 9 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Washington Heights. The biggest park or preserve is Fancher-Davidge Park, at 59 acres. We don’t grade Washington Heights yet; the figures below are still real.

A growing town

Washington Heights has grown 31% from 2010 to 2020

1,689 counted in 2010 and 2,205 in 2020.

1,6892010

2,2052020

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts

Nearby attractions

United States Military Academy and 45 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Washington Heights. Close and well known come first.

All 503 attractions →

Big draw24 mi MuseumUnited States Military Academy

31 mi National Historic SiteHome of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site102K visitors a year

8 mi Theme parkLegoland New York

24 mi Stadium & arenaMichie Stadium

33 mi National Historic SiteVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site295K visitors a year

17 mi MountainHigh Point

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

United States Military Academy: USMA Public Affairs Office, Public domain · Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site: Crunch, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Legoland New York: MattCC716, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Michie Stadium: John Pellino, Public domain · Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site: Daderot, Public domain · High Point: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Washington Heights: who provides what

Washington Heights is unincorporated, so Orange County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerOrange & Rockland26.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMiddletown City water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesOrange CountyOrange County provides services here

SchoolsMiddletown City School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereOrange County Board of ElectionsOrange County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023

ZIP code1094010940 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Washington Heights.

Natural hazards

Top of a very low hazard risk in Washington Heights: inland flooding

Expected losses in Washington Heights break down as 53% from inland flooding and 12% from cold waves. Washington Heights’ risk rating from FEMA stands at 17 of 100.

17risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesHurricanes

Full pageWashington Heights’ hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters27 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready2.8 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commute

With only 0.6 jobs per working resident, most people in Washington Heights work out of town

Half of commuters travel less than 19 miles. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Washington Heights rose by 174, to 516. In Washington Heights, the typical journey to work is 30 minutes. The top destinations are Wallkill (21%), New York (20%) and Middletown (9%).

2%work in town

	Washington Heights	New York towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	30 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	13%	9.5%	9.6%

Where working residents work

In Washington Heights2%

Wallkill21%

New York20%

Middletown9%

Goshen6%

19 mi

median commute distance

516

jobs based in Washington Heights

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageWashington Heights’ work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here516 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work2% work in Washington Heights Commute times30 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 19 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Who lives here

Washington Heights stands out in New York and nationally, with fewer of its residents who are 65 or older

The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 33%, against 40% across New York. In Washington Heights, the median age is 34.6 years.

34.6median age · NY 39.8

	Washington Heights	New York towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	7.9%	20%	18%
Median age	34.6 years	43 years	40.5 years
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	33%	32%	29%

Washington HeightsNew YorkUnited States

NYU.S.

Ages · share of residents

19%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma12%

High school36%

Some college9%

Associate’s9%

Bachelor’s21%

Graduate12%

Women and men · all residents

49% women, 51% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.1 points. Across New York, 51.2% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Washington Heights
	Washington Heights	NY	U.S.
Under 10	16.8%	11%	11.6%
10 to 17	10%	9.5%	10.3%
18 to 24	7.7%	8.9%	9.1%
25 to 34	16.3%	14.2%	13.7%
35 to 44	18.5%	13%	13.2%
45 to 54	8.6%	12.2%	12.2%
55 to 64	14.1%	13.3%	12.7%
65 to 74	6.8%	10.3%	10.2%
75 and older	1%	7.6%	7%
No diploma	12%	12%	10.4%
High school	36.4%	24.3%	26%
Some college	9.3%	14.6%	19.1%
Associate’s	9.4%	8.8%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	21.4%	22.4%	21.6%
Graduate	11.5%	17.9%	14.1%

Full pageWashington Heights by the numbersOpen the page

Ages34.6 median age · 8% are 65 or older Schooling33% have a four-year degree Homes72% own their home · Homeowners Income$82K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,400, single groups can be off by several points

Climate

Snowy winters and pleasant summers: that is Washington Heights’ year

In July, afternoons reach 83°; in January, nights fall to 17°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.

43″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter20–37°

Spring37–59°

Summer59–81°

Fall42–62°

Oct 22

typical first frost

Apr 21

typical last frost

+1.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageWashington Heights’ climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 83°, January lows 17°Rain & snow43″ of snow a winter · 46 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Compared with most of New York and the rest of the country, more of Washington Heights’ adults sleep under 7 hours

Among adults in Washington Heights, 22% say their health is fair or poor. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Washington Heights is ahead of New York on 2 and behind on 14. Two figures for adults here: 17% have been diagnosed with depression, 14% binge drink.

	Washington Heights	New York towns	U.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	44%	37%	36%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	17%	21%	23%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	14%	17%	16%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	23%	13%	14%

32 measures vs. New York

2 better16 too close to call14 worse

What stands out	Washington Heights	NY
Fewer binge drinkers	13.5%	16.3%
Fewer adults who have had cancer	6.4%	7.7%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth	20.2%	12.8%

Garnet Health Medical Center

3.3 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, mental health

Full pageWashington Heights’ health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby3.3 miles to an ER · Garnet Health Medical Center How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NY on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

Conserved land covers 8% of Washington Heights

1.1 miles of trail wind through 4 parks and preserves. Washington Heights’ concentration of trails comes in at 0.7 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves here: 4, covering 69 acres.

8%conserved