What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardiner has the most people working from home (17.2%).

Shawangunk has the most affordable homes ($360k median).

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	Shawangunk
People
Population	5,645Lowest	13,365Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.7±6.1Highest 22% above NY	40.5±1.5Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	11.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16.4%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%	13.6%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Gardiner and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.9Lowest NY: 7%	5.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Shawangunk and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,234±$12kHighest 34% above NY	$109,536±$16kLowest 27% above NY
	Gardiner and Shawangunk 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	$360,100±$16kLowest 15% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$368Highest 7% above NY	$1,375±$281Lowest 15% below NY
	Gardiner and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,307Highest 26% above NY	$7,686Lowest 17% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.9%±5Lowest NY: 52.1%	67.4%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Shawangunk and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%	35.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest about the NY average	35 minHighest 7% above NY
Work from home	17.2%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%	7.1%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#94 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
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.