What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chestnut Ridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+32.7%).

Viola has the most expensive homes ($1044k 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	Chestnut Ridge	Viola
People
Population	10,557Highest	8,461Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+32.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	+19.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	26.9±2.9Lowest 32% below NY	27.3±14.2Highest 31% below NY
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	40.6%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	39.1%±10.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chestnut Ridge and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.2%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	5.8%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,725±$11kHighest 30% above NY	$83,913±$37kLowest about the NY average
	Chestnut Ridge and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$720,100±$43kLowest 70% above NY	$1,044,300±$86kHighest 146% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,710±$742Lowest 5% above NY	$1,765±$1kHighest 9% above NY
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	67.4%±21.2Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%	20.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	59.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	29 minHighest 12% below NY
Work from home	18.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.