What stands out worked out from the figures below

Farmingdale has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Red Hook has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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	Farmingdale	Red Hook
People
Population	8,474Lowest	11,108Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.5±6.7Highest 9% above NY	42.7±2.4Lowest 7% above NY
	Farmingdale and Red Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	17.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Farmingdale and Red Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	19.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Farmingdale and Red Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	57.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	14.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,980±$15kHighest 43% above NY	$112,363±$7kLowest 31% above NY
	Farmingdale and Red Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$559,700±$31kHighest 32% above NY	$430,000±$25kLowest about the NY average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,520±$308Highest 55% above NY	$1,436±$101Lowest 11% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$8,229Lowest 25% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	62.8%±9.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Red Hook and Farmingdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%	8.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% below NY	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	15.6%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.9%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Red Hook and Farmingdale 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	—	#181 of 484 in NY
School district	—	RED HOOK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	RED HOOK 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.