New Paltz, New York

Land area: 33.9 sq mi.
Water area: 0.4 sq mi.
Founded: 1678.
Population in 2014: 14,096.
Population density: 378.4 inhabitants per square mile.
County seat: Kingston.
Colleges and Universities: Ulster County Community College, Culinary Institute of America, Marist College, Dutchess Community College, Vassar College, Mount Saint Mary College, Bard College

Description:

New Paltz (/?nu? ?p??lts/; locally: [?nup????z]) is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census.[1] The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz. The name of the town is derived from Palz (pronounced: [palts]), the German dialect name of the Rhenish Palatinate, now a region of Germany called "Pfalz" (pronounced: [Pfalts]).
Due to the presence of what is now the State University of New York at New Paltz, it has been a college town for over 150 years.
The Wallkill River flows northward through New Paltz on its way to join the Rondout Creek, which in turn feeds into the Hudson River.
A portion of the Shawangunk Ridge is in the town.

Transportation:

There are n/a airports and n/a Amtrak train stations within 30 miles of the New Paltz city center.
The average travel time to work in New Paltz is 16% lower than the national average.
The number of people who take public transportation in New Paltz is 66% lower than the national average.
The number of people who carpool to work in New Paltz is 43% lower than the national average.
The number of people who work from home in New Paltz is 15% lower than the national average.

Races:

82.16% White
5.99% Black or African American
0.20% Native American
4.06% Asian
0.05% Pacific Islander
4.93% from other races
2.62% from two or more races
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.22% of the population

Age:

Median resident age: 22.2 years
New York median age: 38.2 years

Average household size:

New Paltz: 2.2 people
New York: 2.6 people

Estimated median household income in 2013:

New Paltz: $38,952 (it was $21,747 in 2000)
New York: $57,369

Median contract rent in 2013 for apartments:

New Paltz: $1,160
State: $992

Estimated median house or condo value in 2013:

New Paltz:  $260,903 (it was $124,300 in 2000)
New York: $277,600

Air pollution in New Paltz:

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2013 was 68.6. This is about average.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) [ppb] level in 2013 was 2.42. This is worse than average. Closest monitor was 7.7 miles away from the city center.
Ozone [ppb] level in 2013 was 25.6. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 8.3 miles away from the city center.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) [µg/m3] level in 2013 was 7.19. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 9.5 miles away from the city center.
Lead (Pb) [µg/m3] level in 2008 was 0.0180. This is worse than average. Closest monitor was 24.5 miles away from the city center.

Unemployment in September 2015:

Here: 4.8%
New York: 4.8%

Crime:

The overall crime rate in New Paltz is 34% lower than the national average.
For every 100,000 people, there are 5.35 daily crimes that occur in New Paltz.
New Paltz is safer than 57% of the cities in the United States.
In New Paltz you have a 1 in 52 chance of becoming a victim of any crime.
The number of total year over year crimes in New Paltz has decreased by 7%.