What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peekskill has the most expensive homes ($396k median).

Wallkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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	Wallkill
People
Population	25,625Lowest	31,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+11.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.8±2.6Highest 5% above NY	41.2±2.2Lowest 4% above NY
	Peekskill and Wallkill 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%	20.7%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wallkill and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%	15.7%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Peekskill and Wallkill 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%	28%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Wallkill and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,954±$5kLowest about the NY average	$96,076±$4kHighest 12% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,600±$30kHighest 7% below NY	$353,200±$13kLowest 17% below NY
	Peekskill and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,036±$125Highest 26% above NY	$1,790±$80Lowest 10% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,842Highest 19% above NY	$6,623Lowest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.7%±10Highest NY: 52.1%	52.8%±8.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Peekskill and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest NY: 14%	11%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	64.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	10.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wallkill and Peekskill 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	#476 of 484 in NY
School district	PEEKSKILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH 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.