What stands out worked out from the figures below

Claverack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Ghent has the most people working from home (18.7%).

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	Claverack	Ghent
People
Population	6,054Highest	5,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.1±2.8Highest 33% above NY	47.8±4.1Lowest 20% above NY
	Claverack and Ghent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ghent and Claverack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Claverack and Ghent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	38.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Ghent and Claverack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,111±$11kLowest 14% below NY	$82,092±$30kHighest 5% below NY
	Ghent and Claverack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$52kLowest 23% below NY	$371,200±$40kHighest 12% below NY
	Ghent and Claverack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,243±$358Highest 23% below NY	$1,085±$162Lowest 33% below NY
	Claverack and Ghent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,523Lowest 46% below NY	$5,301Highest 19% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±18.9Highest NY: 52.1%	40.7%±11.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Claverack and Ghent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970 11 yrs newer than NY	1970 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	13.4%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.7%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ghent and Claverack 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	—	#217 of 484 in NY
School district	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS)	CHATHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BROOKWOOD SECURE CENTER FOR YOUTH	CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
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.