What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cochecton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Damascus has the most kids (16.6% under 18).

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	Cochecton	Damascus
People
Population	1,489Lowest	3,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±5.1Lowest 29% above U.S.	52.3±1.7Highest 34% above U.S.
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,292±$36kLowest 10% below U.S.	$75,357±$19kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,600±$56kHighest about the U.S. average	$282,200±$28kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Cochecton and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$109Highest 25% below U.S.	$705±$576Lowest 50% below U.S.
	Cochecton and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,588Highest 79% above U.S.	$3,504Lowest 12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±21.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cochecton and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 31% above U.S.	39 minHighest 48% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cochecton and Damascus 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	—	#51 of 764 in PA
School district	SULLIVAN WEST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Wayne Highlands SD
High school in town	SULLIVAN WEST HIGH SCHOOL AT LAKE HUNTINGTON	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.