What stands out worked out from the figures below

Esopus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Boston has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Esopus	Boston
People
Population	9,561Highest	7,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±2.6Lowest 23% above NY	51.5±3.5Highest 29% above NY
	Boston and Esopus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%	14.5%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Esopus and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Esopus and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	32%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Esopus and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,837±$8kLowest 3% above NY	$92,482±$16kHighest 8% above NY
	Boston and Esopus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,200±$30kHighest 36% below NY	$266,900±$18kLowest 37% below NY
	Esopus and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$362Highest 9% below NY	$1,347±$49Lowest 17% below NY
	Esopus and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,488Highest 17% below NY	$4,758Lowest 28% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.5%±14.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	62.2%±33.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Boston and Esopus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.5%Highest NY: 14%	4.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	79.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	12.5%±5Highest NY: 14.9%	8.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Esopus and Boston 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 484 in NY	#414 of 484 in NY
School district	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	HAMBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.