What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Pine Plains has the most kids (20.7% 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	Stanford	Pine Plains
People
Population	3,692Highest	2,243Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.3±5.1Highest 29% above NY	50.1±6.6Lowest 26% above NY
	Stanford and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pine Plains and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±4.4 NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.4 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	40.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Stanford and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,578±$18kLowest 3% above NY	$102,109±$18kHighest 19% above NY
	Pine Plains and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,200±$32kHighest about the NY average	$317,600±$32kLowest 25% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,124±$104Lowest 31% below NY	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY
	Pine Plains and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,762Highest 12% below NY	$4,614Lowest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±15Highest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±39.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Stanford and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest NY: 14%	9.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	27 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	10%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.7%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pine Plains and Stanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.0
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.