Compare towns
Walker Valley vs Wawarsing vs Shawangunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walker Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+48.8%).
Wawarsing has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Shawangunk has the most expensive homes ($360k 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.
| Measure | Walker Valley | Wawarsing | Shawangunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,301Lowest |
12,533 |
13,365Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +48.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-5.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 34.9±7.8Lowest 12% below NY |
45.4±3.3Highest 14% above NY |
40.5±1.5 about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.4%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
11.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Walker Valley and Wawarsing 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% |
23.4%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.6%±2 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±4Lowest NY: 7% |
6.8%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
5.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Wawarsing and Shawangunk 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 |
$64,321±$5kLowest 25% below NY |
$109,536±$16k 27% above NY |
| Walker Valley and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,700±$117k 22% below NY |
$236,900±$17kLowest 44% below NY |
$360,100±$16kHighest 15% below NY |
| Shawangunk 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 |
$1,252±$227Lowest 23% below NY |
$1,375±$281 15% below NY |
| Walker Valley and Shawangunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,154 9% above NY |
$3,883Lowest 41% below NY |
$7,686Highest 17% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.7%±51.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
73.4%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
67.4%±21.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Walker Valley and Wawarsing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest NY: 14% |
22% NY: 14% |
35.9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% NY: 54.3% |
65.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 8% below NY |
30 min 8% below NY |
35 minHighest 7% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±7.1 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wawarsing 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 | — | #288 of 484 in NY | #94 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | ELLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RONDOUT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | ELLENVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.