Compare towns
Evans vs Strafford vs Sullivan vs Esopus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Evans has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Sullivan has the youngest population (median age 45).
Esopus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Evans | Strafford | Sullivan | Esopus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,183Highest |
1,372Lowest |
14,690 |
9,561 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±2.8 27% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45±2.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.8±2.6 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Evans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Esopus and Evans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,467±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,948±$6k about the U.S. average |
$88,837±$8k 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Esopus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$10kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$194,100±$12k 42% below U.S. |
$272,200±$30k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$104 35% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$863±$135Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,471±$362Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Esopus and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,590 47% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,542Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,488 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.5%±14.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sullivan and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #180 of 484 in NY | — | #87 of 484 in NY | #51 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) | Strafford School District | CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
U.S. 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.