What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Union Vale has the most expensive homes ($491k 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	Poestenkill	Union Vale
People
Population	4,327Lowest	4,567Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.6Highest 11% above NY	40.7±4.4Lowest about the NY average
	Poestenkill and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	26%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%	16.2%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Poestenkill and Union Vale 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%	42.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	3.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Union Vale 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	$102,888±$22kLowest 20% above NY
	Poestenkill and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$303,700±$37kLowest 28% below NY	$490,900±$45kHighest 16% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,294±$484Lowest 20% below NY	$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,998Lowest 9% below NY	$9,469Highest 44% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.1%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest NY: 14%	7.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 23% below NY	40 minHighest 24% above NY
Work from home	14.3%±4.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.2%±5.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Union Vale 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	#89 of 484 in NY
School district	AVERILL PARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None 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.