What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wallkill has the most renters (35.9% rent).

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	Wallkill
People
Population	1,301Lowest	31,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+48.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	+11.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.9±7.8Lowest 12% below NY	41.2±2.2Highest 4% above NY
	Wallkill 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%	20.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Walker Valley and Wallkill 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%	15.7%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±4Lowest NY: 7%	7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Wallkill 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±$40kHighest 39% above NY	$96,076±$4kLowest 12% above NY
	Walker Valley and Wallkill 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	$353,200±$13kHighest 17% below NY
	Wallkill and Walker Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,620±$2kHighest 62% above NY	$1,790±$80Lowest 10% above NY
	Walker Valley and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,154Highest 9% above NY	$6,623Lowest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.7%±51.8Highest NY: 52.1%	52.8%±8.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Walker Valley and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11% NY: 14%	11% NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±7.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wallkill and Walker Valley 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	—	#476 of 484 in NY
School district	—	MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school 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.