Compare towns
Ancram vs Cairo vs Copake vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ancram has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Copake has the oldest population (median age 59.3).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Ancram | Cairo | Copake | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
6,700Highest |
3,313 |
1,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 18% above NY |
44.2±4.2Lowest 11% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
47.2±6.2 19% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±8 NY: 20.5% |
| Ancram and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.2 NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Copake and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% NY: 40.2% |
28.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37% NY: 40.2% |
46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 NY: 7% |
6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Nelson and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,773±$22k 16% above NY |
$79,643±$22kLowest 7% below NY |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$82,063±$18k 5% below NY |
| Copake and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $449,000±$38kHighest 6% above NY |
$263,400±$18k 38% below NY |
$325,000±$49k 23% below NY |
$230,000±$18kLowest 46% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,131±$148 30% below NY |
$1,015±$305 37% below NY |
$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
| Copake and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,947Highest 25% below NY |
$4,246 35% below NY |
$3,630Lowest 45% below NY |
$3,990 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±44.2 NY: 52.1% |
45.1%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Copake and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% NY: 14% |
10.5% NY: 14% |
13.5%Highest NY: 14% |
7.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
86.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
29 minLowest 13% below NY |
32 min 3% below NY |
29 minLowest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 20.1%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±6.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Ancram and Copake 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 | — | #461 of 484 in NY | #302 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.