What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

Plattekill has the most kids (22.3% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Plattekill
People
Population	1,033Lowest	10,406Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	40.5±2.9Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.3%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	16.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Plattekill and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kLowest 6% above NY	$103,045±$27kHighest 20% above NY
	Plattekill and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kLowest 37% below NY	$310,000±$28kHighest 27% below NY
	Plattekill and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304Lowest 36% below NY	$1,250±$623Highest 23% below NY
	Plattekill and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Lowest 40% below NY	$7,155Highest 9% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.2%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plattekill and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	66.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	32 minHighest 3% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.1%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Plattekill and Wayne 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	—	#434 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WALLKILL 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.