What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Halfmoon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.2%).

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	Halfmoon
People
Population	14,834Lowest	26,245Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+19.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±2.2Lowest 6% above NY	42.1±2Highest 6% above NY
	Halfmoon and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%	19.8%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Beacon and Halfmoon 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%	18.8%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	46.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	4%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Halfmoon 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±$21kHighest 25% above NY	$100,712±$7kLowest 17% above NY
	Beacon and Halfmoon 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	$387,700±$21kLowest 9% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,658±$145Highest about the NY average	$1,559±$66Lowest 4% below NY
	Beacon and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,958Highest 21% above NY	$5,810Lowest 12% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.4%±9.3Highest NY: 52.1%	38.3%±8.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Beacon and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	67.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1996Highest 37 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 27% above NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	21.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	16.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Beacon and Halfmoon 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	#206 of 484 in NY
School district	BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	MECHANICVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BEACON HIGH SCHOOL	MECHANICVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	12.4Highest
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.