What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minisink has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Union Vale has the most people working from home (15.2%).

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	Minisink	Union Vale
People
Population	4,661Highest	4,567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±3.7Lowest about the NY average	40.7±4.4Highest about the NY average
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	26%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.2%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,690±$15kHighest 49% above NY	$102,888±$22kLowest 20% above NY
	Minisink and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,200±$18kLowest 7% above NY	$490,900±$45kHighest 16% above NY
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,778±$100Lowest 10% above NY	$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,953Highest 51% above NY	$9,469Lowest 44% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±22.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.1%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Union Vale and Minisink are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%	7.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 31 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minLowest 17% above NY	40 minHighest 24% above NY
Work from home	12.3%±5.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.2%±5.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Union Vale and Minisink 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	—	#89 of 484 in NY
School district	—	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school 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.