Compare towns
Wallkill vs Freeport vs Peekskill vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($506k median).
Peekskill has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Middletown has the most kids (25.9% under 18).
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 | Wallkill | Freeport | Peekskill | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,023 |
44,088Highest |
25,625Lowest |
30,289 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+7.8% NY: +4.2% |
+8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.2 4% above NY |
40±1.6 about the NY average |
41.8±2.6Highest 5% above NY |
36.3±2.4Lowest 9% below NY |
| Peekskill and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
20%±1.9 NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.9%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Middletown and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.6%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Peekskill and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% NY: 40.2% |
27.5% NY: 40.2% |
37.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
5.6%±1 NY: 7% |
5.5%±1.4 NY: 7% |
5.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Wallkill and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,076±$4k 12% above NY |
$120,625±$11kHighest 40% above NY |
$85,954±$5k about the NY average |
$79,346±$8kLowest 8% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,200±$13k 17% below NY |
$505,900±$20kHighest 19% above NY |
$395,600±$30k 7% below NY |
$308,600±$14kLowest 27% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,790±$80 10% above NY |
$2,077±$169Highest 28% above NY |
$2,036±$125 26% above NY |
$1,661±$106Lowest about the NY average |
| Freeport and Peekskill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,623Lowest about the NY average |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$7,842 19% above NY |
$6,773 about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±8.1 NY: 52.1% |
52.1%±12Lowest NY: 52.1% |
58.7%±10Highest NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±5.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Peekskill and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% NY: 14% |
7.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.9% NY: 14% |
13.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NY: 54.3% |
70.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
59.4% NY: 54.3% |
51.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% below NY |
36 min 10% above NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
36 min 10% above NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.8%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
10.4%±3.1 NY: 14.9% |
6%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wallkill and Peekskill 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 | — | #360 of 484 in NY | #150 of 484 in NY |
| School district | MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | PEEKSKILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | PEEKSKILL HIGH SCHOOL | MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.