Compare towns
Ulster vs Catskill vs Hillside
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Hillside has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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.
| Measure | Ulster | Catskill | Hillside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,675Highest |
11,321 |
911Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.2Lowest 15% above NY |
47±3.9Highest 18% above NY |
46.5±4.1 17% above NY |
| Catskill and Hillside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3 NY: 20.5% |
16%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.9%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Hillside and Ulster 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%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Hillside and Catskill 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% NY: 40.2% |
66.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.1 NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±2Lowest 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±$7k 7% below NY |
$69,321±$10kLowest 19% below NY |
$141,964±$26kHighest 65% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,100±$27k 29% below NY |
$246,000±$25kLowest 42% below NY |
$469,000±$41kHighest 11% above 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 | $5,197 21% below NY |
$4,322Lowest 34% below NY |
$8,918Highest 35% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±10.6 NY: 52.1% |
46.1%±10.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hillside and Ulster 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% NY: 14% |
3.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.5% NY: 54.3% |
68.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
96.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
28 minHighest 15% below NY |
23 min 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±3.7 NY: 14.9% |
24.3%±11Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hillside and Catskill 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 | 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.