Compare towns
Ellery vs 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
Ellery has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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.
| Measure | Ellery | Copake | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,073Highest |
3,313 |
3,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.5 41% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
54.1±6.7Lowest 36% above NY |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chester and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±6.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest NY: 40.2% |
37% NY: 40.2% |
36.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Ellery and Copake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,833±$12k about the NY average |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$84,623±$20kLowest about the NY average |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,900±$29kLowest 44% below NY |
$325,000±$49kHighest 23% below NY |
$306,400±$38k 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 | $845±$189Lowest 48% below NY |
$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$868±$163 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 | $3,796Highest 42% below NY |
$3,630 45% below NY |
$2,924Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.6%±27.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% NY: 14% |
13.5%Highest NY: 14% |
6.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 29% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±5.6 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 | #241 of 484 in NY | #302 of 484 in NY | #307 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
8.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.