What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

Pawling has the most kids (21.2% 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	Gardiner	Pawling
People
Population	5,645Lowest	8,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.7±6.1Lowest 22% above NY	49.6±2.1Highest 25% above NY
	Pawling and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.2%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pawling and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.9%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pawling and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Gardiner and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,234±$12kLowest 34% above NY	$120,592±$16kHighest 40% above NY
	Pawling and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$469,200±$36kHighest 11% above NY	$449,100±$16kLowest 6% above NY
	Gardiner and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$368Highest 7% above NY	$1,522±$314Lowest 6% below NY
	Gardiner and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,307Lowest 26% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.9%±5Highest NY: 52.1%	53.3%±11.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Gardiner and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest NY: 14%	4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest about the NY average	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	17.2%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%	16.1%±5.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gardiner and Pawling 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	—	#108 of 484 in NY
School district	—	PAWLING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	PAWLING HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.