What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pine Plains has the most kids (20.7% 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	Pine Plains
People
Population	1,489Lowest	2,243Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.3±5.1Highest 26% above NY	50.1±6.6Lowest 26% above NY
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pine Plains and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	40.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±3.1Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Cochecton and Pine Plains 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 16% below NY	$102,109±$18kHighest 19% above NY
	Pine Plains 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 21% below NY	$317,600±$32kLowest 25% below NY
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$109Lowest 34% below NY	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,588Highest 15% below NY	$4,614Lowest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±21.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±39.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pine Plains and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NY: 14%	9.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	27 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	15.1%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%	14.7%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	SULLIVAN WEST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SULLIVAN WEST HIGH SCHOOL AT LAKE HUNTINGTON	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	8.0Lowest
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.