What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+41.1%).

Wappinger has the most affordable homes ($395k 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	Baldwin	Wappinger
People
Population	34,994Highest	28,252Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+41.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±1.1Lowest 3% above NY	43.9±1.8Highest 10% above NY
	Wappinger and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±2Highest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±1.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Baldwin and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.2%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wappinger and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	36%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	6.1%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Baldwin and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,472±$9kHighest 69% above NY	$95,234±$10kLowest 11% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,800±$12kHighest 40% above NY	$394,800±$11kLowest 7% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,890±$203Highest 17% above NY	$1,708±$94Lowest 5% above NY
	Baldwin and Wappinger 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	$6,236Lowest 5% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±7.3Highest NY: 52.1%	45.7%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Baldwin and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest NY: 14%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	63.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 21% above NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wappinger 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	—	#93 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	ROY C KETCHAM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.4
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.