Compare towns
Ancram vs Nelson vs Copake vs Pine Plains
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).
Nelson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.5%).
Copake has the oldest population (median age 59.3).
Pine Plains has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Nelson | Copake | Pine Plains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
1,765 |
3,313Highest |
2,243 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4% NY: +4.2% |
-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Lowest 18% above NY |
47.2±6.2 19% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
50.1±6.6 26% above NY |
| Copake and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±8 NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±5.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Ancram and Pine Plains 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% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±4.4 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% |
46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
37%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
40.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.9%±2 NY: 7% |
| Nelson and Pine Plains 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 |
$82,063±$18kLowest 5% below NY |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$102,109±$18k 19% above NY |
| Copake and Pine Plains 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 |
$230,000±$18kLowest 46% below NY |
$325,000±$49k 23% below NY |
$317,600±$32k 25% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,131±$148 30% below NY |
$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
$1,204±$546 26% below NY |
$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY |
| Pine Plains and Copake 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 |
$3,990 39% below NY |
$3,630Lowest 45% below NY |
$4,614 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±44.2 NY: 52.1% |
22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
30.6%±39.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Copake and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% NY: 14% |
7.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.5%Highest NY: 14% |
9.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.3% NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
81%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
32 min 3% below NY |
27 minLowest 19% below NY |
| Work from home | 20.1%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
14.7%±6.4 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 | — | — | #302 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.8Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.