What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ulster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

Catskill has the most affordable homes ($246k 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	Ulster	Catskill
People
Population	12,675Highest	11,321Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.8±2.2Lowest 15% above NY	47±3.9Highest 18% above NY
	Catskill and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	16%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.2%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Catskill and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Catskill and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,769±$7kHighest 7% below NY	$69,321±$10kLowest 19% below NY
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,100±$27kHighest 29% below NY	$246,000±$25kLowest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,351±$178Highest 17% below NY	$1,062±$129Lowest 34% below NY
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Highest 21% below NY	$4,322Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±10.6Highest NY: 52.1%	46.1%±10.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Ulster and Catskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Highest NY: 14%	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Catskill and Ulster 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	#456 of 484 in NY	#243 of 484 in NY
School district	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CATSKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	CATSKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.9
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.