What stands out worked out from the figures below

Speculator has the shortest commute (12 min average).

Essex has the most kids (15.6% 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	Speculator	Essex
People
Population	409Lowest	710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-7.5% NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.8±10.7Highest 40% above NY	53.5±7.2Lowest 34% above NY
	Speculator and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	6.1%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	38.1%±18.7Highest NY: 17.9%	23.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Speculator and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	41.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±4.1Highest NY: 7%	0.3%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Speculator and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,864±$6kLowest 26% below NY	$77,188±$11kHighest 10% below NY
	Essex and Speculator are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$250,000±$91kLowest 41% below NY	$277,800±$50kHighest 34% below NY
	Essex and Speculator are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,042±$244Highest 36% below NY	$775±$709Lowest 52% below NY
	Speculator and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,208Lowest 51% below NY	$3,888Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±34.1Highest NY: 52.1%	14.6%±42.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Speculator and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.7%Highest NY: 14%	19.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 65% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	19.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9%	14.9%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Speculator and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	5 photos →	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.