What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kent has the highest household income ($129k).

Patterson has the most people working from home (13.4%).

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	Kent	Patterson
People
Population	12,896Highest	11,560Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.4±1.4Highest 9% above NY	41±2.2Lowest 3% above NY
	Kent and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Kent and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	16.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Kent and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	37.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	7%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Patterson and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,012±$13kHighest 50% above NY	$102,149±$13kLowest 19% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,100±$15kLowest 8% below NY	$409,500±$34kHighest 3% below NY
	Patterson and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,606±$224Lowest about the NY average	$2,048±$217Highest 26% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,796Highest 49% above NY	$9,603Lowest 46% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.8%±49.7Highest NY: 52.1%	66.8%±14.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Kent and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest NY: 14%	17.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 20% above NY	37 minLowest 13% above NY
Work from home	10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.4%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Patterson and Kent 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	#296 of 484 in NY	#402 of 484 in NY
School district	CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None 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.