What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Poughkeepsie has the most renters (61.2% rent).

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	Kingston	Poughkeepsie
People
Population	23,911Lowest	31,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.2±1.2Lowest 7% below NY	38.1±2.4Highest 4% below NY
	Poughkeepsie and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5%	18.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Kingston and Poughkeepsie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%	16.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Kingston and Poughkeepsie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	7.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,186±$5kHighest 21% below NY	$60,741±$6kLowest 29% below NY
	Kingston and Poughkeepsie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$315,500±$16kHighest 26% below NY	$283,700±$15kLowest 33% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$91Highest 9% below NY	$1,400±$100Lowest 14% below NY
	Kingston and Poughkeepsie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Highest 10% below NY	$5,718Lowest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±6.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	60%±5.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Poughkeepsie and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6% NY: 14%	17.6% NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	38.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	15.3%±2.4Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#200 of 484 in NY	#460 of 484 in NY
School district	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	POUGHKEEPSIE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	KINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL	POUGHKEEPSIE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.6Lowest
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.