What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ancram has the most expensive homes ($449k median).

Pine Plains has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ancram	Pine Plains
People
Population	1,389Lowest	2,243Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.8±2.3Lowest 18% above NY	50.1±6.6Highest 26% above NY
	Pine Plains and Ancram 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%	20.7%±5.4Lowest 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%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ancram and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	40.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Pine Plains and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,773±$22kLowest 16% above NY	$102,109±$18kHighest 19% above NY
	Pine Plains 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	$317,600±$32kLowest 25% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,131±$148Lowest 30% below NY	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY
	Pine Plains 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	$4,614Lowest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±44.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±39.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pine Plains and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3% NY: 14%	9.3% NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	27 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	20.1%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%	14.7%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ancram and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.0
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.