What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wappinger has the most people working from home (13.2%).

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	Wappinger
People
Population	25,625Lowest	28,252Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	+4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 5% above NY	43.9±1.8Highest 10% above NY
	Wappinger 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%	18.3%±1.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wappinger and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.2%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wappinger 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%	36%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	6.1%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Wappinger 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	$95,234±$10kHighest 11% above NY
	Wappinger and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,600±$30kHighest 7% below NY	$394,800±$11kLowest 7% below NY
	Peekskill and Wappinger 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	$1,708±$94Lowest 5% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,842Highest 19% above NY	$6,236Lowest 5% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.7%±10Highest NY: 52.1%	45.7%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Peekskill and Wappinger 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%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	63.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	10.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wappinger 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	#93 of 484 in NY
School district	PEEKSKILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PEEKSKILL HIGH SCHOOL	ROY C KETCHAM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	13.4Highest
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.