What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Beacon has the most people working from home (21.2%).

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	Cornwall	Beacon
People
Population	12,755Lowest	14,834Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.3±2.7Highest 6% above NY	42±2.2Lowest 6% above NY
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	20%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	48.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,635±$11kHighest 33% above NY	$107,859±$21kLowest 25% above NY
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,800±$27kLowest 5% above NY	$471,600±$27kHighest 11% above NY
	Beacon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$124Highest 11% above NY	$1,658±$145Lowest about the NY average
	Cornwall and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$7,958Lowest 21% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±11.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	46.4%±9.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Beacon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%	9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	61.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% below NY	41 minHighest 27% above NY
Work from home	16.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	21.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Beacon and Cornwall 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	#29 of 484 in NY	#423 of 484 in NY
School district	CORNWALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL	BEACON HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	10.6Lowest
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.