Compare towns
Baldwin vs Freeport vs Wallkill vs Oceanside
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+41.1%).
Freeport has the youngest population (median age 40).
Wallkill has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Oceanside has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Baldwin | Freeport | Wallkill | Oceanside |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,994 |
44,088Highest |
31,023Lowest |
31,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +41.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+3.8% NY: +4.2% |
+11.2% NY: +4.2% |
+1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±1.1 3% above NY |
40±1.6Lowest about the NY average |
41.2±2.2 4% above NY |
45.7±2Highest 15% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2Highest NY: 20.5% |
20%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.4%±1.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Baldwin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.4 NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% NY: 40.2% |
27.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28% NY: 40.2% |
48.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
5.6%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
7.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
5.9%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Baldwin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,472±$9k 69% above NY |
$120,625±$11k 40% above NY |
$96,076±$4kLowest 12% above NY |
$149,560±$11kHighest 74% above NY |
| Oceanside and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,800±$12k 40% above NY |
$505,900±$20k 19% above NY |
$353,200±$13kLowest 17% below NY |
$634,300±$11kHighest 50% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,890±$203 17% above NY |
$2,077±$169 28% above NY |
$1,790±$80Lowest 10% above NY |
$2,227±$120Highest 37% above NY |
| Oceanside and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$6,623Lowest about the NY average |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±7.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
52.1%±12 NY: 52.1% |
52.8%±8.1 NY: 52.1% |
38.2%±7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Baldwin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% NY: 14% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
11%Highest NY: 14% |
2.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% NY: 54.3% |
70.9% NY: 54.3% |
64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 21% above NY |
36 min 10% above NY |
31 minLowest 5% below NY |
36 min 11% above NY |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
9.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Oceanside and Baldwin 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 | — | — | #476 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.