Town · New York

Town of Esopus, New York

Esopus (town), town, in Ulster County, New York. Esopus (town) had 9,544 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,548 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,561 (±31). GEOID 3611124691.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

9,544

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,548 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,561 ±31

Median household income

$88,837

±$8,256 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$272,200

±$29,837 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$1,471

±$362 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

Where is Esopus (town) and what county is it in?

Esopus (town) is a town in Ulster County, New York. It covers 37.3 square miles of land, 256 residents per square mile in 2020.

2 places lie inside the Town of Esopus: Port Ewen (CDP, 3,678 in 2020) and Rifton (CDP, 481 in 2020).

Esopus (town) is in the Kingston, NY metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Esopus (town) (marked with a dot) in Ulster County, New York. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Esopus (town), and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 9,544 people lived in Esopus (town) on July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, a smaller fall than New York's (−1.0%). The 2020 Census counted 9,548 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,561 (±31).

  • July 2020→2021 +73 (9,625)
  • 2021→2022 −76 (9,549)
  • 2022→2023 +7 (9,556)
  • 2023→2024 −5 (9,551)
  • 2024→2025 −7 (9,544)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureEsopus (town)Ulster CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Total population9,561±31182,60119,852,366+779
Households3,787±32674,2787,722,646no clear change
Average household size2.12±0.192.262.49no clear change
Housing units4,143±32786,5038,585,241no clear change

Esopus (town)'s population since 2000

From 9,331 in 2000 to 9,544 in 2025: up 2.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Esopus (town) as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 9,331
  • 2005 (estimate) 9,287
  • 2010 Census 9,041
  • 2015 (estimate) 8,854
  • 2020 Census 9,548
  • 2025 (estimate) 9,544

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Esopus (town)?

The median resident of Esopus (town) is 48.8 years old; 16.2% are under 18 and 24.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.7%. 8.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureEsopus (town)Ulster CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median age48.8±2.644.139.8+5.0
Under 18 years16.2%±2.7 pts17.1%20.5%–
65 years and over24.9%±4.2 pts21.3%17.9%–
Male49.4%±3.8 pts49.7%48.8%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)8.7%±2.9 pts12.2%19.8%no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic75.8%±5.4 pts72.4%52.8%−11.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic7.0%±4.4 pts5.7%13.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.2 pts2.1%9.0%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.4 pts0.0%0.2%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.4 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic8.1%±4.1 pts6.3%3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.3%±0.4 pts1.3%1.0%–
Born outside the United States8.8%±4.8 pts8.1%22.8%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)6.8%±3.1 pts12.1%30.9%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)3.6%±1.3 pts4.3%3.7%–
With a disability13.2%±3.4 pts14.3%12.6%–
No health insurance coverage6.4%±3.8 pts6.9%5.1%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)95.7%±2.1 pts92.2%88.0%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)32.1%±6.3 pts38.2%40.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)16.9%±4.7 pts17.5%17.9%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier93.4%±3.0 pts90.3%90.1%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.0%±0.8 pts1.4%1.5%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Esopus (town) earn?

Half of Esopus (town)'s 3,787 households earn less than $88,837 a year (±$8,256), against $86,271 in Ulster County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $87,868 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureEsopus (town)Ulster CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$88,837±$8,256$86,271$85,974no clear change
Mean household income$111,931±$19,336$117,353$128,247–
Per capita income$44,405±$6,406$47,778$50,712no clear change
People below the poverty line21.5%±4.0 pts14.6%14.0%+7.9 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line19.7%±11.5 pts13.5%18.3%no clear change
Households receiving SNAP5.0%±2.5 pts9.8%15.6%–
Households with a computer96.9%±2.6 pts94.5%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription93.7%±2.8 pts92.4%90.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Esopus (town)?

Owners occupy 83.3% of Esopus (town)'s occupied homes and renters 16.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $272,200 by its owner (±$29,837). The median renter pays $1,471 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureEsopus (town)Ulster CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$272,200±$29,837$352,500$423,800no clear change
Median gross rent$1,471±$362$1,425$1,621no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent31.1%±19.1 pts49.6%43.1%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$2,159±$244$2,287$2,555–
Owner-occupied homes83.3%±5.7 pts69.9%54.3%+8.3 pts
Renter-occupied homes16.7%±5.7 pts30.1%45.7%–
Housing units4,143±32786,5038,585,241no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.3%±0.6 pts1.1%1.1%–
Rental vacancy rate10.7%±11.1 pts4.9%3.8%–
Single-family detached homes67.5%±6.8 pts67.8%41.2%–
Mobile homes12.8%±5.3 pts5.8%2.1%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±1.0 pts0.9%0.8%–
Built 2010 to 20192.1%±2.4 pts4.7%5.3%–
Built 1939 or earlier23.9%±6.8 pts26.5%30.3%–
Households with no vehicle4.6%±2.9 pts7.3%29.2%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Esopus (town) building?

Builders took permits for 132 new housing units in Esopus (town) in 2025 (8 in single-family houses), 13.8 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.

  • 2019 14 units
  • 2020 11 units
  • 2021 10 units
  • 2022 13 units
  • 2023 12 units
  • 2024 16 units
  • 2025 132 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Esopus (town) work and get to work?

74.8% of Esopus (town)'s workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureEsopus (town)Ulster CountyNew YorkChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)54.2%±5.6 pts58.1%62.7%–
Unemployment rate3.6%±2.1 pts5.4%6.4%–
Drove alone to work74.8%±7.2 pts68.9%48.8%–
Carpooled6.6%±3.3 pts6.5%6.3%–
Public transportation2.7%±2.1 pts1.9%21.6%–
Walked1.3%±1.8 pts3.3%5.6%–
Worked from home12.5%±4.9 pts17.6%14.9%no clear change
Mean travel time to work26.9 min±2.727.5 min32.6 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Esopus (town)?

2 census tracts lie mostly in Esopus (town) (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $79,295 (Tract 9525) to $90,000 (Tract 9526).

Census tracts in Esopus (town), ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Esopus (town)
Tract 9526Ulster County6,184 $90,000 $256,200100%
Tract 9525Ulster County3,377 $79,295 $285,200100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Esopus (town)) · Census block assignment files

How does Esopus (town) compare with other places in New York?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Esopus (town) is the 1,288th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 154th-most populous of 924 in New York.

Esopus (town) ranks 692nd of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Esopus (town)'s rank in New York (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate154th924
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)379th1,225
Residents per square mile990th1,657
Median household income692nd1,623
Per capita income772nd1,653
Median home value688th1,637
Median gross rent471st1,515
Poverty rate123rd1,331
Bachelor's degree or higher823rd1,640
Median age355th1,654
Owner-occupied share602nd1,639
Work from home682nd1,350
Travel time to work741st1,652

Esopus (town)'s figures with every place in New York (CSV)

Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Esopus (town) with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Esopus (town)?

11 of the 57 figures for Esopus (town) on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Esopus (town) are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.