What stands out worked out from the figures below

Catskill has the most affordable homes ($246k median).

Ulster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

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	Catskill	Ulster
People
Population	11,321Lowest	12,675Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47±3.9Highest 18% above NY	45.8±2.2Lowest 15% above NY
	Catskill and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Catskill and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	3.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Catskill and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,321±$10kLowest 19% below NY	$79,769±$7kHighest 7% below NY
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$246,000±$25kLowest 42% below NY	$301,100±$27kHighest 29% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,062±$129Lowest 34% below NY	$1,351±$178Highest 17% below NY
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,322Lowest 34% below NY	$5,197Highest 21% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±10.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.7%±10.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%	11.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	69.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	13.2%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Catskill and Ulster 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	#243 of 484 in NY	#456 of 484 in NY
School district	CATSKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CATSKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
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.