Compare towns
Ellery vs Olean vs Copake vs Hector
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Copake has the most expensive homes ($325k median).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Olean | Copake | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,073 |
1,664Lowest |
3,313 |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-7.4% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.5 41% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
51.1±4Lowest 28% 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% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±6.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37% NY: 40.2% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Ellery and Hector 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 |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
| 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±$29k 44% below NY |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$325,000±$49kHighest 23% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $845±$189 48% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
| Copake and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,796 42% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$3,630Lowest 45% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±16.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
13.5% NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Copake and Hector 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #302 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 | 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.