What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hyde Park has the most expensive homes ($331k 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	Esopus	Hyde Park
People
Population	9,561Lowest	21,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±2.6Highest 23% above NY	40.7±2.5Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hyde Park and Esopus 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%	20%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Esopus and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	34.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	13.2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,837±$8kHighest 3% above NY	$87,094±$8kLowest about the NY average
	Esopus and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,200±$30kLowest 36% below NY	$331,200±$15kHighest 22% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$362Highest 9% below NY	$1,227±$117Lowest 24% below NY
	Esopus and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,488Lowest 17% below NY	$7,039Highest 7% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.5%±14.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.6%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hyde Park 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%	9.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	73%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	29 minHighest 12% below NY
Work from home	12.5%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±2.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hyde Park and Esopus 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	#160 of 484 in NY
School district	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	HYDE PARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
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.