What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k 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	Hamlin	Wallkill
People
Population	8,652Lowest	31,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+11.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY	41.2±2.2Lowest 4% above NY
	Hamlin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wallkill and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	15.7%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hamlin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average	$96,076±$4kHighest 12% above NY
	Wallkill and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY	$353,200±$13kHighest 17% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,062±$137Lowest 34% below NY	$1,790±$80Highest 10% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,343Lowest 34% below NY	$6,623Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%	52.8%±8.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hamlin and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest NY: 14%	11%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	12.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hamlin and Wallkill 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.