What stands out worked out from the figures below

Viola has the most expensive homes ($1044k median).

Chestnut Ridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+32.7%).

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	Viola	Chestnut Ridge
People
Population	8,461Lowest	10,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+32.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	27.3±14.2Highest 31% below NY	26.9±2.9Lowest 32% below NY
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	39.1%±10.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	40.6%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Chestnut Ridge and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%	14.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	35%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±2Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,913±$37kLowest about the NY average	$111,725±$11kHighest 30% above NY
	Chestnut Ridge and Viola are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,044,300±$86kHighest 146% above NY	$720,100±$43kLowest 70% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,765±$1kHighest 9% above NY	$1,710±$742Lowest 5% above NY
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.4%±21.2Highest NY: 52.1%	33%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest NY: 14%	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 12% below NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%	18.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Viola and Chestnut Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.