Compare towns
Ulster vs Kingston vs Esopus
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).
Kingston has the most renters (51.6% rent).
Esopus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Kingston | Esopus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,675 |
23,911Highest |
9,561Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.2 15% above NY |
37.2±1.2Lowest 7% below NY |
48.8±2.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Esopus and Ulster 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% |
21%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Kingston and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Esopus 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% |
32.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.1%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Kingston 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 |
$68,186±$5kLowest 21% below NY |
$88,837±$8kHighest 3% above 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±$27k 29% below NY |
$315,500±$16kHighest 26% below NY |
$272,200±$30kLowest 36% below NY |
| Kingston and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,351±$178Lowest 17% below NY |
$1,469±$91 9% below NY |
$1,471±$362Highest 9% below NY |
| Esopus and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 21% below NY |
$5,935Highest 10% below NY |
$5,488 17% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±10.6 NY: 52.1% |
59.4%±6.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
36.5%±14.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Kingston and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6% NY: 14% |
21.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.5% NY: 54.3% |
48.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.3%±2.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.5%±5 NY: 14.9% |
| Kingston 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 | #200 of 484 in NY | #51 of 484 in NY |
| School district | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | KINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.