What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Schodack has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Bethlehem	Schodack
People
Population	35,139Highest	12,933Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.3±2Lowest 14% above NY	46.1±1.9Highest 16% above NY
	Schodack and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.9Highest NY: 20.5%	19.9%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bethlehem and Schodack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.6%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Schodack and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	38.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±0.9Highest NY: 7%	3%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Bethlehem and Schodack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,893±$9kHighest 44% above NY	$108,074±$13kLowest 26% above NY
	Bethlehem and Schodack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,400±$10kHighest 13% below NY	$302,100±$19kLowest 29% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,721±$81Highest 6% above NY	$1,273±$182Lowest 21% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,842Highest 19% above NY	$6,301Lowest 4% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±7.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.7%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Schodack and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest NY: 14%	6.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 33% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	19.6%±2.7Highest NY: 14.9%	13%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 484 in NY	#187 of 484 in NY
School district	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	EAST GREENBUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SCHODACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	MAPLE HILL JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	9.9Lowest
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.