Compare towns
Malta vs Wilton vs Beacon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Malta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Wilton has the most homeowners (71.1%).
Beacon has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
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 | Malta | Wilton | Beacon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,398 |
17,456Highest |
14,834Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+7.3% NY: +4.2% |
-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.4±2.2Highest 12% above NY |
41.3±3.4Lowest 4% above NY |
42±2.2 6% above NY |
| Malta and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.4%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Wilton and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.4%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Malta and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
52.9% NY: 40.2% |
48.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Wilton and Malta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,425±$12kHighest 28% above NY |
$98,854±$11kLowest 15% above NY |
$107,859±$21k 25% above NY |
| Malta and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,300±$33kLowest 14% below NY |
$402,000±$31k 5% below NY |
$471,600±$27kHighest 11% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$121Lowest 9% below NY |
$1,576±$340 about the NY average |
$1,658±$145Highest about the NY average |
| Beacon and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,830 11% below NY |
$4,482Lowest 32% below NY |
$7,958Highest 21% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.1%±8.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.4%±12Highest NY: 52.1% |
46.4%±9.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Wilton and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NY: 14% |
4.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
61.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 31 yrs newer than NY |
1999Highest 40 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 24% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
41 minHighest 27% above NY |
| Work from home | 16.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
19.1%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
21.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Beacon and Wilton 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 | #8 of 484 in NY | #143 of 484 in NY | #423 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY SD · SOUTH GLENS FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | BEACON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.