Compare towns
Amherst vs Ripton vs Clarkstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Clarkstown has the most expensive homes ($602k 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 | Amherst | Ripton | Clarkstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 130,546Highest |
508Lowest |
86,937 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.4±1.1 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Clarkstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,483±$2kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$136,883±$6kHighest 70% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$602,100±$10kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$45Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,185±$88Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,935 90% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±4.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clarkstown and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±1.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Amherst 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 | #72 of 484 in NY | — | #36 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | NANUET UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT · CLARKSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | CLARKSTOWN SOUTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.