What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pleasant Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Washington has the most expensive homes ($532k 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	Pleasant Valley	Washington
People
Population	9,794Highest	4,496Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.8±4.4Lowest 13% above NY	56.8±2.3Highest 43% above NY
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%	10.7%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	20.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	29.8%±6.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Washington and Pleasant Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	49.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	5.2%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Pleasant Valley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,731±$16kLowest 18% above NY	$102,303±$38kHighest 19% above NY
	Washington and Pleasant Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,500±$32kLowest 12% below NY	$532,300±$170kHighest 26% above NY
	Washington and Pleasant Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,898±$356Highest 17% above NY	$1,176±$226Lowest 27% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,106Highest 23% above NY	$7,305Lowest 11% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1%	38%±16.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Pleasant Valley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest NY: 14%	6.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	67.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	30 minLowest 8% below NY
Work from home	15%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	19.5%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Washington and Pleasant Valley 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	#297 of 484 in NY	#267 of 484 in NY
School district	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · HYDE PARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MILLBROOK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	MILLBROOK HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.3
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.