What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pine Plains has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

Cochecton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Pine Plains	Cochecton
People
Population	2,243Highest	1,489Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.1±6.6Lowest 26% above NY	50.3±5.1Highest 26% above NY
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%	14%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pine Plains and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.8%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	39.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2Lowest NY: 7%	4%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,109±$18kHighest 19% above NY	$72,292±$36kLowest 16% below NY
	Pine Plains and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$317,600±$32kLowest 25% below NY	$335,600±$56kHighest 21% below NY
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY	$1,063±$109Lowest 34% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,614Lowest 30% below NY	$5,588Highest 15% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.6%±39.3Highest NY: 52.1%	29%±21.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Pine Plains and Cochecton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest NY: 14%	8.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 19% below NY	35 minHighest 6% above NY
Work from home	14.7%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.1%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Cochecton and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SULLIVAN WEST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	SULLIVAN WEST HIGH SCHOOL AT LAKE HUNTINGTON
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0Lowest	9.9Highest
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.