Compare towns

Copake 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 most people working from home (15.1%).
Chester has the most kids (15.1% 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.

MeasureCopakeChester
People
Population
3,313Highest
3,074Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-8%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
59.3±3Highest
49% above NY
54.1±6.7Lowest
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%
15.1%±4.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
Chester and Copake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
32.4%±7.1
NY: 17.9%
32.4%±5.3
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37%Highest
NY: 40.2%
36.5%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.1
NY: 7%
1.5%±1.5
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,611±$40kHighest
32% above NY
$84,623±$20kLowest
about the NY average
Copake and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,000±$49kHighest
23% below NY
$306,400±$38kLowest
28% below NY
Copake and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$546Highest
26% below NY
$868±$163Lowest
46% below NY
Copake and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,630Highest
45% below NY
$2,924Lowest
56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.5%±42.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
25.6%±27.3Lowest
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%
6.6%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%Highest
NY: 54.3%
85.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
11 yrs newer than NY
1979Highest
20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
3% below NY
24 minLowest
26% below NY
Work from home
15.1%±5.9Highest
NY: 14.9%
11.2%±5.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Copake and Chester 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
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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.