Compare towns
Ulster vs Esopus vs Catskill
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 the shortest commute (21 min average).
Esopus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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.
| Measure | Ulster | Esopus | Catskill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,675Highest |
9,561Lowest |
11,321 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NY: +4.2% |
+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.2Lowest 15% above NY |
48.8±2.6Highest 23% above NY |
47±3.9 18% above NY |
| Esopus and Catskill 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%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
16%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Ulster and Esopus 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% |
24.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Esopus 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% |
32.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$7k 7% below NY |
$88,837±$8kHighest 3% above NY |
$69,321±$10kLowest 19% below NY |
| Esopus and Ulster 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 |
$272,200±$30k 36% below NY |
$246,000±$25kLowest 42% below NY |
| Ulster and Esopus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,351±$178 17% below NY |
$1,471±$362Highest 9% below NY |
$1,062±$129Lowest 34% below NY |
| Esopus and Ulster 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 |
$5,488Highest 17% below NY |
$4,322Lowest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±10.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
36.5%±14.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.1%±10.4 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% NY: 14% |
21.5%Highest NY: 14% |
11.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.5% NY: 54.3% |
83.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
68.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 15% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.5%±5 NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Catskill and Esopus 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 | #51 of 484 in NY | #243 of 484 in NY |
| School district | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | CATSKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → | 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.