What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union Vale has the most expensive homes ($491k median).

Poestenkill has the most affordable homes ($304k 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	Union Vale	Poestenkill
People
Population	4,567Highest	4,327Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±4.4Lowest about the NY average	44.2±5.6Highest 11% above NY
	Poestenkill and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Poestenkill and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	46.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,888±$22kLowest 20% above NY	$126,250±$23kHighest 47% above NY
	Poestenkill and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$490,900±$45kHighest 16% above NY	$303,700±$37kLowest 28% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY	$1,294±$484Lowest 20% below NY
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,469Highest 44% above NY	$5,998Lowest 9% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1%	43.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Union Vale and Poestenkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest NY: 14%	5.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 24% above NY	25 minLowest 23% below NY
Work from home	15.2%±5.6Highest NY: 14.9%	14.3%±4.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Union Vale and Poestenkill 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	#89 of 484 in NY	#263 of 484 in NY
School district	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	AVERILL PARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.