What stands out worked out from the figures below

Covert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

Pine Plains has the most expensive homes ($318k median).

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	Covert	Pine Plains
People
Population	2,004Lowest	2,243Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.4±4.3Highest 27% above NY	50.1±6.6Lowest 26% above NY
	Covert and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Covert and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Covert 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+	40.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	40.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Pine Plains and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,688±$16kLowest 12% below NY	$102,109±$18kHighest 19% above NY
	Pine Plains and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,200±$48kLowest 46% below NY	$317,600±$32kHighest 25% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,257±$236Lowest 22% below NY	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY
	Pine Plains and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,724Lowest 43% below NY	$4,614Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±39.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Covert and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest NY: 14%	9.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY	1959Highest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	27 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	15.5%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9%	14.7%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Covert and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	SOUTH SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.0
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.