What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ontario has the most kids (22.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Esopus	Ontario
People
Population	9,561Lowest	10,491Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±2.6Highest 23% above NY	45.2±2.7Lowest 14% above NY
	Esopus and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.9%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Esopus and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1% NY: 40.2%	32.1% NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Ontario 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±$8kHighest 3% above NY	$82,608±$7kLowest 4% below NY
	Esopus and Ontario 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	$233,900±$15kLowest 45% below NY
	Esopus and Ontario 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	$882±$172Lowest 46% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,488Highest 17% below NY	$5,251Lowest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.5%±14.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	49%±18.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ontario 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%	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	23 minLowest 29% below NY
Work from home	12.5%±5Highest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Esopus and Ontario 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	#48 of 484 in NY
School district	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	WAYNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.