What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walker Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+48.8%).

Freeport has the most expensive homes ($506k 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	Walker Valley	Freeport
People
Population	1,301Lowest	44,088Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+48.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.9±7.8Lowest 12% below NY	40±1.6Highest about the NY average
	Freeport and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%	20%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Walker Valley and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	9.4%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.1%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Freeport and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Freeport and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,625±$40kLowest 39% above NY	$120,625±$11kHighest 40% above NY
	Freeport and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$331,700±$117kLowest 22% below NY	$505,900±$20kHighest 19% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,620±$2kHighest 62% above NY	$2,077±$169Lowest 28% above NY
	Walker Valley and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,154Lowest 9% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.7%±51.8Highest NY: 52.1%	52.1%±12Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Walker Valley and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest NY: 14%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	70.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	36 minHighest 10% above NY
Work from home	9.5%±7.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.8%±1.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Freeport and Walker Valley 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.