What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wappinger has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

Fishkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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	Wappinger	Fishkill
People
Population	28,252Highest	22,924Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+9.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±1.8Lowest 10% above NY	45.9±2.1Highest 15% above NY
	Fishkill and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±1.8Highest NY: 20.5%	14.5%±2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wappinger and Fishkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Fishkill and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	4.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Wappinger and Fishkill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,234±$10kLowest 11% above NY	$101,423±$8kHighest 18% above NY
	Fishkill and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,800±$11kLowest 7% below NY	$419,600±$16kHighest about the NY average
	Fishkill and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,708±$94Lowest 5% above NY	$1,877±$104Highest 16% above NY
	Fishkill and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,236Lowest 5% below NY	$7,000Highest 6% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.5%±8.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Fishkill and Wappinger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%	7.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	65.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	36 minHighest 11% above NY
Work from home	13.2%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%	11.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wappinger and Fishkill 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	#93 of 484 in NY	#421 of 484 in NY
School district	WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ROY C KETCHAM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.4	—
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.