What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shawangunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.4%).

Mount Hope has the most kids (16.2% under 18).

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	Shawangunk	Mount Hope
People
Population	13,365Highest	6,465Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±1.5Lowest about the NY average	44.2±2.3Highest 11% above NY
	Mount Hope and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.2%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	13.6%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.9%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Mount Hope and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	4.1%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Shawangunk and Mount Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,536±$16kHighest 27% above NY	$91,475±$16kLowest 6% above NY
	Shawangunk and Mount Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,100±$16kLowest 15% below NY	$368,900±$20kHighest 13% below NY
	Mount Hope and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$281Highest 15% below NY	$1,294±$402Lowest 20% below NY
	Shawangunk and Mount Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,686Highest 17% above NY	$7,579Lowest 15% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.4%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1%	45.8%±12Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Shawangunk and Mount Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	35.9%Highest NY: 14%	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 7% above NY	40 minHighest 23% above NY
Work from home	7.1%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.5%±4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Mount Hope and Shawangunk 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	#94 of 484 in NY	#416 of 484 in NY
School district	WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MINISINK VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.