Compare towns
LaGrange vs Elma vs Poughkeepsie
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
LaGrange has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Elma has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Poughkeepsie has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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.
| Measure | LaGrange | Elma | Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,384 |
11,687Lowest |
45,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.6 4% above NY |
43.8±4.6Highest 10% above NY |
37.7±1.6Lowest 5% below NY |
| Elma and LaGrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
15.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
44% NY: 40.2% |
45.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.4 NY: 7% |
4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
18.2%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,586±$10kHighest 41% above NY |
$116,460±$12k 35% above NY |
$97,724±$6kLowest 14% above NY |
| LaGrange and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,600±$20kHighest 4% below NY |
$357,900±$27k 16% below NY |
$354,900±$11kLowest 16% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,455±$1k 10% below NY |
$952±$472Lowest 41% below NY |
$1,677±$69Highest 3% above NY |
| Poughkeepsie and LaGrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,104Highest 38% above NY |
$4,999Lowest 24% below NY |
$8,183 24% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±20.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.9%±17Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51%±8.2 NY: 52.1% |
| LaGrange and Poughkeepsie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NY: 14% |
3.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% NY: 54.3% |
88.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 31% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
18.6%±2.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Poughkeepsie and Elma 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 | #81 of 484 in NY | #90 of 484 in NY | #157 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SPACKENKILL UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL | IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | SPACKENKILL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.4Highest |
10.6 |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.