What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poestenkill has the most expensive homes ($304k median).

LaFayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Poestenkill	LaFayette
People
Population	4,327Lowest	4,878Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.6Lowest 11% above NY	45.5±5.8Highest 14% above NY
	LaFayette and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%	17%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Poestenkill and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	21%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	LaFayette and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	43.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±3Highest NY: 7%
	LaFayette and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,250±$23kHighest 47% above NY	$113,750±$21kLowest 32% above NY
	Poestenkill and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$303,700±$37kHighest 28% below NY	$228,600±$16kLowest 46% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$484Lowest 20% below NY	$1,298±$123Highest 20% below NY
	LaFayette and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,998Highest 9% below NY	$4,836Lowest 27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1%	13.5%±17.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Poestenkill and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest NY: 14%	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 23% below NY	22 minLowest 33% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±4.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.9%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	LaFayette and Poestenkill 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	#263 of 484 in NY	#331 of 484 in NY
School district	AVERILL PARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LAFAYETTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	LA FAYETTE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.