What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damascus has the most kids (16.6% under 18).

Cochecton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Damascus	Cochecton
People
Population	3,698Highest	1,489Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.3±1.7Highest 34% above U.S.	50.3±5.1Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,357±$19kHighest 7% below U.S.	$72,292±$36kLowest 10% below U.S.
	Damascus and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,200±$28kLowest 15% below U.S.	$335,600±$56kHighest about the U.S. average
	Cochecton and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$705±$576Lowest 50% below U.S.	$1,063±$109Highest 25% below U.S.
	Cochecton and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,504Lowest 12% above U.S.	$5,588Highest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±21.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cochecton and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 48% above U.S.	35 minLowest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cochecton and Damascus 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	#51 of 764 in PA	—
School district	Wayne Highlands SD	SULLIVAN WEST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	SULLIVAN WEST HIGH SCHOOL AT LAKE HUNTINGTON
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.