Compare towns
Buchanan vs Altamont vs Union Vale
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buchanan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Altamont has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Union Vale has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Buchanan | Altamont | Union Vale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,397 |
1,855Lowest |
4,567Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 38.5±3.5Lowest 3% below NY |
42.2±4.3Highest 6% above NY |
40.7±4.4 about the NY average |
| Altamont and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
26.4%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
26%±7.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Altamont and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.2%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Altamont and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% NY: 40.2% |
50.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
42.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Buchanan and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY |
$112,159±$19k 30% above NY |
$102,888±$22kLowest 20% above NY |
| Buchanan and Altamont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY |
$318,900±$33kLowest 25% below NY |
$490,900±$45k 16% above NY |
| Buchanan and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,953±$836 20% above NY |
$1,201±$233Lowest 26% below NY |
$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY |
| Union Vale and Buchanan 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 |
$6,053Lowest 8% below NY |
$9,469 44% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34%±23Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52.4%±18.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
52.1%±20.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Altamont and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.4% NY: 14% |
7.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NY: 54.3% |
79.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest same as NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
31 minLowest 6% below NY |
40 minHighest 24% above NY |
| Work from home | 14.2%±6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±5.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Altamont and Union Vale 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 | — | — | #89 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.