What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).

Hoosick has the most people working from home (16.3%).

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	Shaftsbury	Hoosick
People
Population	3,607Lowest	6,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.9±5.5Highest 15% above U.S.
	Hoosick and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Shaftsbury and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hoosick and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hoosick and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,071±$24kHighest 7% above U.S.	$63,372±$21kLowest 22% below U.S.
	Shaftsbury and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$24kHighest 20% below U.S.	$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,079±$54Highest 24% below U.S.	$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Shaftsbury and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S.	$4,071Highest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±36Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43%±13.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shaftsbury and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hoosick and Shaftsbury 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	#62 of 70 in VT	#62 of 484 in NY
School district	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87	HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.