What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marilla has the most homeowners (92.4%).

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	Marilla
People
Population	9,561Highest	5,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±2.6Highest 23% above NY	46.5±5.5Lowest 17% above NY
	Esopus and Marilla 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%	15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Esopus and Marilla 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%	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Esopus and Marilla 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%	33.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Marilla and Esopus 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	$92,787±$23kHighest 8% above NY
	Marilla 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±$30kLowest 36% below NY	$286,400±$36kHighest 32% below NY
	Marilla and Esopus 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	$952±$95Lowest 41% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,488Highest 17% below NY	$5,098Lowest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.5%±14.6Highest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±44.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Esopus and Marilla 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%	2.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	12.5%±5Highest NY: 14.9%	4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#51 of 484 in NY	#258 of 484 in NY
School district	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	IROQUOIS 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.