What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Copake has the most expensive homes ($325k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nelson	Copake
People
Population	1,765Lowest	3,313Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY	59.3±3Highest 49% above NY
Kids under 18	20.1%±8Highest NY: 20.5%	11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Nelson and Copake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	37%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,063±$18kLowest 5% below NY	$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY
	Copake and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,000±$18kLowest 46% below NY	$325,000±$49kHighest 23% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY	$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY
	Copake and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,990Highest 39% below NY	$3,630Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Copake and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	13.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 13% below NY	32 minHighest 3% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.1%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Copake and Nelson 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	—	#302 of 484 in NY
School district	—	TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.8
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.