Compare towns
Nelson vs Copake vs Eaton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.5%).
Copake has the most expensive homes ($325k median).
Eaton has the youngest population (median age 24.5).
Eaton is a college town. 34.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Nelson | Copake | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,765Lowest |
3,313 |
4,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4% NY: +4.2% |
-18.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.2±6.2 19% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
24.5±2.9Lowest 38% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±8Highest NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Nelson and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.2%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
37% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
34.3%±2.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,063±$18k 5% below NY |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$53,281±$11kLowest 38% below 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±$18k 46% below NY |
$325,000±$49kHighest 23% below NY |
$119,400±$8kLowest 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$818±$147 50% below NY |
| Copake and Eaton 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 |
$3,630 45% below NY |
$3,132Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
48.7%±17.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Copake and Eaton 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% |
10.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 13% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.9 NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | #371 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | MORRISVILLE-EATON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8 |
— |
| 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.