What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most expensive homes ($506k median).

Wallkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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	Freeport	Wallkill
People
Population	44,088Highest	31,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+11.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the NY average	41.2±2.2Highest 4% above NY
	Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.7%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest NY: 7%	7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,625±$11kHighest 40% above NY	$96,076±$4kLowest 12% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$505,900±$20kHighest 19% above NY	$353,200±$13kLowest 17% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,077±$169Highest 28% above NY	$1,790±$80Lowest 10% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$6,623Lowest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±12Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.8%±8.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%	11%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 10% above NY	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	9.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wallkill and Freeport 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	—	#476 of 484 in NY
School district	—	MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school 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.