Compare towns

Cairo vs Freeport vs Wallkill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cairo has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($506k median).
Wallkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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.

MeasureCairoFreeportWallkill
People
Population
6,700Lowest
44,088Highest
31,023
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+3.8%
NY: +4.2%
+11.2%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±4.2Highest
11% above NY
40±1.6Lowest
about the NY average
41.2±2.2
4% above NY
Cairo and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.9%±3.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20%±1.9
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±2.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
15.1%±1.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
15.7%±1.6
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
27.5%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
28%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NY: 7%
5.6%±1
NY: 7%
7.8%±1.5Highest
NY: 7%
Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,643±$22kLowest
7% below NY
$120,625±$11kHighest
40% above NY
$96,076±$4k
12% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,400±$18kLowest
38% below NY
$505,900±$20kHighest
19% above NY
$353,200±$13k
17% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,015±$305Lowest
37% below NY
$2,077±$169Highest
28% above NY
$1,790±$80
10% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,246Lowest
35% below NY
$10,000+Highest
at least 52% above NY
$6,623
about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.2Lowest
NY: 52.1%
52.1%±12
NY: 52.1%
52.8%±8.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.5%
NY: 14%
7.4%Lowest
NY: 14%
11%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
70.9%
NY: 54.3%
64.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
14 yrs newer than NY
1953Lowest
6 yrs older than NY
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
13% below NY
36 minHighest
10% above NY
31 min
5% below NY
Work from home
11.1%±6.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
9.8%±1.8Lowest
NY: 14.9%
10.5%±2.9
NY: 14.9%
Cairo and Wallkill 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 #461 of 484 in NY — #476 of 484 in NY
School district CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.