Compare towns
Nelson vs Copake vs Fenner
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Copake has the most expensive homes ($325k median).
Fenner has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
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 | Fenner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,765 |
3,313Highest |
1,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% NY: +4.2% |
-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.2±6.2 19% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
45±5.9Lowest 13% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±8 NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.3%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Fenner and Nelson 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% |
19.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
37% NY: 40.2% |
25.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Nelson and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,063±$18k 5% below NY |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$77,750±$4kLowest 10% 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 |
$184,200±$20kLowest 57% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $773±$328 52% below NY |
$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$636±$97Lowest 61% 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 |
$3,630 45% below NY |
$3,073Lowest 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
36.8%±19.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Copake and Fenner 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% |
11.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 13% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
15.6%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Fenner and Copake 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 | 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.