Compare towns
Clarkstown vs Ramapo vs Smithtown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarkstown has the most affordable homes ($602k median).
Ramapo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.6%).
Smithtown has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Clarkstown | Ramapo | Smithtown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 86,937Lowest |
152,401Highest |
116,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% NY: +4.2% |
+17.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.4±1.1Highest 12% above NY |
25.1±0.5Lowest 37% below NY |
44.4±0.7Highest 12% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
39.8%±0.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.4%±0.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% NY: 40.2% |
30.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
54.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.7 NY: 7% |
5.2%±0.4Lowest NY: 7% |
6.9%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Smithtown and Clarkstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,883±$6k 59% above NY |
$82,463±$4kLowest 4% below NY |
$152,636±$4kHighest 78% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $602,100±$10kLowest 42% above NY |
$653,100±$18k 54% above NY |
$669,900±$6kHighest 58% above NY |
| Smithtown and Ramapo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,185±$88 35% above NY |
$1,787±$53Lowest 10% above NY |
$2,233±$96Highest 38% above NY |
| Smithtown and Clarkstown 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 |
$10,000+ at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±8.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66.5%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
62.8%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Ramapo and Smithtown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NY: 14% |
26.5%Highest NY: 14% |
4.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NY: 54.3% |
54.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min about the NY average |
26 minLowest 20% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.5%±1.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Smithtown and Clarkstown 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 | #36 of 484 in NY | #385 of 484 in NY | #23 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NANUET UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT · CLARKSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | EAST RAMAPO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (SPRING VALLEY) · SUFFERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | COMMACK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT · HAUPPAUGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CLARKSTOWN SOUTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL | COMMACK HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.3Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.