What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wallkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

Milton has the most people working from home (15.5%).

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	Wallkill	Milton
People
Population	31,023Highest	19,036Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±2.2Lowest 4% above NY	42.2±2.3Highest 6% above NY
	Milton and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.3%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Milton and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	16%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Milton 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	4.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,076±$4kLowest 12% above NY	$100,322±$9kHighest 17% above NY
	Milton and Wallkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$353,200±$13kHighest 17% below NY	$311,500±$19kLowest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,790±$80Highest 10% above NY	$1,423±$89Lowest 12% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,623Highest about the NY average	$4,385Lowest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±8.1Highest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±10.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wallkill and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	25 minLowest 23% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.5%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Milton and Wallkill 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	#330 of 484 in NY
School district	MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None 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.