What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peekskill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

Champlain has the most affordable homes ($173k 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	Peekskill	Champlain
People
Population	25,625Highest	5,667Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 5% above NY	44.4±2.3Highest 12% above NY
	Champlain and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.2%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Champlain and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Peekskill and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,954±$5kHighest about the NY average	$59,866±$6kLowest 30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,600±$30kHighest 7% below NY	$173,400±$16kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,036±$125Highest 26% above NY	$890±$102Lowest 45% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,842Highest 19% above NY	$3,681Lowest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.7%±10Highest NY: 52.1%	54.4%±13.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Peekskill and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Lowest NY: 14%	14.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	67.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	10.4%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Peekskill and Champlain 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	#360 of 484 in NY	#54 of 484 in NY
School district	PEEKSKILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTHEASTERN CLINTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PEEKSKILL HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0	—
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.