What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Haverstraw has the most expensive homes ($361k 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	Thompson	Haverstraw
People
Population	16,714Highest	12,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.4±3.9Highest about the NY average	38.3±3.2Lowest 4% below NY
	Thompson and Haverstraw are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Haverstraw and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	15.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Thompson and Haverstraw are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	5.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Haverstraw and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,021±$10kLowest 24% below NY	$75,167±$10kHighest 13% below NY
	Haverstraw and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$229,000±$19kLowest 46% below NY	$361,100±$15kHighest 15% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$109Lowest 31% below NY	$2,114±$164Highest 30% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,079Lowest 23% below NY	$9,818Highest 49% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.9%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	69.1%±12.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Haverstraw and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.6%Highest NY: 14%	16.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	49.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 24% below NY	29 minHighest 11% below NY
Work from home	8%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.3%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Haverstraw and Thompson 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	#452 of 484 in NY	—
School district	MONTICELLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
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.