What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has the most expensive homes ($241k median).

Rockland has the most people working from home (8.6%).

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	Colchester	Rockland
People
Population	1,713Lowest	3,307Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-12.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.2±7Lowest 24% above NY	52.9±3.5Highest 33% above NY
	Rockland and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	12.1%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Colchester and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	28.6%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rockland and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	32.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	0.6%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Colchester and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,222±$15kHighest 22% below NY	$52,778±$12kLowest 39% below NY
	Colchester and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,500±$80kHighest 43% below NY	$155,400±$59kLowest 63% below NY
	Colchester and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$332Highest 29% below NY	$1,119±$152Lowest 31% below NY
	Colchester and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,915Lowest 71% below NY	$3,703Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±27.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	71%±23Highest NY: 52.1%
	Rockland and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%	14.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest NY: 54.3%	84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	2.4%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Rockland and Colchester 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	—	#329 of 484 in NY
School district	—	LIVINGSTON MANOR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	LIVINGSTON MANOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
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.