What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beacon has the most people working from home (21.2%).

Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Beacon	Cornwall
People
Population	14,834Highest	12,755Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±2.2Lowest 6% above NY	42.3±2.7Highest 6% above NY
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.5%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	19%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	49.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	4.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,859±$21kLowest 25% above NY	$114,635±$11kHighest 33% above NY
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$471,600±$27kHighest 11% above NY	$444,800±$27kLowest 5% above NY
	Beacon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,658±$145Lowest about the NY average	$1,803±$124Highest 11% above NY
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,958Lowest 21% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.4%±9.3Highest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±11.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Beacon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NY: 14%	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 27% above NY	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	21.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	16.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Beacon and Cornwall 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	#423 of 484 in NY	#29 of 484 in NY
School district	BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORNWALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BEACON HIGH SCHOOL	CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	13.3Highest
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.