What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andes has the most expensive homes ($296k median).

Middletown has the most kids (14.7% under 18).

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	Andes	Middletown
People
Population	1,129Lowest	3,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-11%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.1±5.8Lowest 38% above NY	55.6±3.7Highest 40% above NY
	Middletown and Andes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	14.7%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Middletown and Andes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.1%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	31.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Andes and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Middletown and Andes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,000±$29kLowest 13% below NY	$78,021±$7kHighest 9% below NY
	Middletown and Andes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,400±$36kHighest 30% below NY	$250,000±$48kLowest 41% below NY
	Andes and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$967±$742Highest 40% below NY	$887±$139Lowest 45% below NY
	Andes and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,754Highest 43% below NY	$3,683Lowest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	58.9%±16.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Middletown and Andes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest NY: 14%	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	30 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	21.5%±5.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	24.5%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Middletown and Andes 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	—	#344 of 484 in NY
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.