What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ithaca has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).

New Paltz has the most expensive homes ($464k median).

Ithaca is a college town. 33.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Ithaca	New Paltz
People
Population	20,968Highest	15,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	+2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	29.3±2.1Highest 26% below NY	25.7±1Lowest 35% below NY
Kids under 18	13%±1.7Highest NY: 20.5%	12.5%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ithaca and New Paltz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	15.9%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ithaca and New Paltz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	66.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	35%±4.6Highest NY: 7%
	New Paltz and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,978±$18kHighest 23% above NY	$83,133±$12kLowest 3% below NY
	Ithaca and New Paltz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$368,700±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$464,400±$20kHighest 10% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,558±$122Lowest 4% below NY	$1,616±$119Highest about the NY average
	New Paltz and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,273Lowest 26% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±9Lowest NY: 52.1%	69.7%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	New Paltz and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest NY: 14%	22%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Highest NY: 54.3%	51.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 16 yrs newer than NY	1975 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 49% below NY	26 minHighest 20% below NY
Work from home	25.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	25.6%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	New Paltz and Ithaca 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	#182 of 484 in NY	#45 of 484 in NY
School district	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	NEW PALTZ SENIOR 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.