What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

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	Stanford
People
Population	2,243Lowest	3,692Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.1±6.6Lowest 26% above NY	51.3±5.1Highest 29% above NY
	Stanford 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%	13.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Pine Plains and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±4.4 NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.4 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	44.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Stanford 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	$88,578±$18kLowest 3% above NY
	Pine Plains and Stanford 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	$424,200±$32kHighest about the NY average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY	$1,124±$104Lowest 31% below NY
	Pine Plains and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,614Lowest 30% below NY	$5,762Highest 12% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.6%±39.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.7%±15Highest NY: 52.1%
	Stanford and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest NY: 14%	13.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Highest NY: 54.3%	72%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 19% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	14.7%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%	10%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Pine Plains and Stanford 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	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0	—
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.