What stands out worked out from the figures below

Valatie has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.9%).

Pine Plains has the most people working from home (14.7%).

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	Valatie	Pine Plains
People
Population	1,796Lowest	2,243Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50±4.9Lowest 26% above NY	50.1±6.6Highest 26% above NY
	Pine Plains and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pine Plains and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	40.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Pine Plains and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,461±$20kLowest 17% above NY	$102,109±$18kHighest 19% above NY
	Pine Plains and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$19kHighest 23% below NY	$317,600±$32kLowest 25% below NY
	Valatie and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$842±$105Lowest 48% below NY	$1,508±$291Highest 7% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,497Highest 16% below NY	$4,614Lowest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±10.7Highest NY: 52.1%	30.6%±39.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Valatie and Pine Plains are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%	9.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 25% below NY	27 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	9.7%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.7%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pine Plains and Valatie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	PINE PLAINS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	STISSING MOUNTAIN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.0
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.