What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plattekill has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($469k 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	Plattekill	Gardiner
People
Population	10,406Highest	5,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±2.9Lowest about the NY average	48.7±6.1Highest 22% above NY
	Gardiner and Plattekill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Plattekill and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.4%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Gardiner and Plattekill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	4%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
	Gardiner and Plattekill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,045±$27kLowest 20% above NY	$115,234±$12kHighest 34% above NY
	Gardiner and Plattekill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$310,000±$28kLowest 27% below NY	$469,200±$36kHighest 11% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$623Lowest 23% below NY	$1,732±$368Highest 7% above NY
	Gardiner and Plattekill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,155Lowest 9% above NY	$8,307Highest 26% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.2%±13.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.9%±5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Gardiner and Plattekill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 3% below NY	32 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	12.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.2%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Gardiner and Plattekill 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	#434 of 484 in NY	—
School district	WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.