Compare towns
Copake vs Ancram vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Copake has the highest household income ($114k).
Ancram has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Chester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Copake | Ancram | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,313Highest |
1,389Lowest |
3,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
46.8±2.3Lowest 18% above NY |
54.1±6.7 36% above NY |
| Copake and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Ancram and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NY: 40.2% |
41.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$99,773±$22k 16% above NY |
$84,623±$20kLowest about the NY average |
| Copake and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,000±$49k 23% below NY |
$449,000±$38kHighest 6% above NY |
$306,400±$38kLowest 28% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$1,131±$148 30% below NY |
$868±$163Lowest 46% below NY |
| Copake and Ancram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630 45% below NY |
$4,947Highest 25% below NY |
$2,924Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
25%±44.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
25.6%±27.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Copake and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest NY: 14% |
9.3% NY: 14% |
6.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 3% below NY |
35 minHighest 6% above NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
20.1%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Ancram and Copake 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 | #302 of 484 in NY | — | #307 of 484 in NY |
| School district | TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.