What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pawling has the most people working from home (16.1%).

Beekman has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

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	Pawling	Beekman
People
Population	8,044Lowest	14,069Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.6±2.1Highest 25% above NY	41.2±2Lowest 4% above NY
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	20.4%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pawling and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	15%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	35%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Beekman and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,592±$16kLowest 40% above NY	$126,250±$13kHighest 47% above NY
	Beekman and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$449,100±$16kHighest 6% above NY	$440,800±$19kLowest 4% above NY
	Pawling and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,522±$314Lowest 6% below NY	$1,870±$375Highest 15% above NY
	Beekman and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$8,686Lowest 32% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±11.5Highest NY: 52.1%	45.3%±22Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Pawling and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NY: 14%	5.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 14% above NY	38 minHighest 16% above NY
Work from home	16.1%±5.8Highest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Pawling and Beekman 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	#108 of 484 in NY	#257 of 484 in NY
School district	PAWLING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PAWLING HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.