What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Poughkeepsie has the most expensive homes ($284k 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	Troy	Poughkeepsie
People
Population	51,033Highest	31,958Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.3±1.1Lowest 19% below NY	38.1±2.4Highest 4% below NY
Kids under 18	17.2%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.5%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Poughkeepsie and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.4%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.6%±1Highest NY: 7%	7.6%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,477±$5kLowest 32% below NY	$60,741±$6kHighest 29% below NY
	Poughkeepsie and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,500±$10kLowest 51% below NY	$283,700±$15kHighest 33% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$29Lowest 28% below NY	$1,400±$100Highest 14% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,749Lowest 28% below NY	$5,718Highest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±5.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	60%±5.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Poughkeepsie and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.4%Highest NY: 14%	17.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	38.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	14.5%±2Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#284 of 484 in NY	#460 of 484 in NY
School district	LANSINGBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · TROY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	POUGHKEEPSIE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	TROY HIGH SCHOOL	POUGHKEEPSIE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.6Lowest
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.