Population 18,721 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Beacon
Household size in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.87 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.33 | 2.92 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.88 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.14 | 2.85 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.44 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Beacon are small: just 2.14 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.57 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 29 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.4 | 40.0 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +1.9 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Beacon is 42.4 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 10.8% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 9.9% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 9.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 9.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.6% of households in Beacon, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 8.4 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Beacon
Renters in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.0% | 29.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 47.7% | 30.5% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.9% | 32.3% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.4% | 31.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +2.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Beacon than nationally: 41.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 36.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the north. The renter share has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 11.2% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 8.0% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Beacon: just 5.4% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1968 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1970 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1971 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1974 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Beacon is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1962, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the southeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,035 | $1,135 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,220 | $1,260 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,473 | $1,393 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,821 | $1,742 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$786 | +$607 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Beacon costs $1,821 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $786 a month from 2006–10, a 76% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Beacon
Bachelor's degrees in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 29.4% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.8% | 30.3% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.5% | 32.1% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.6% | 35.1% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +22.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Beacon is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (49.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 22.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 86.8% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 87.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.6% | 89.6% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.5% | 90.3% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Beacon is above the national rate: 93.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Beacon
| Period | Beacon | Poughkeepsie area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.5% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 8.6% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 5.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Beacon runs well above the national rate: 7.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only 43 of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.9 points, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Beacon compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon | 2.14 | 42.4 | 7.6% | 41.4% | 5.4% | 1962 | $1,821 | 49.6% | 93.5% | 7.5% |
| Newburgh | 2.78 | 38.8 | 20.9% | 49.2% | 11.0% | 1959 | $1,736 | 24.0% | 84.4% | 6.0% |
| Fishkill | 2.30 | 46.3 | 6.2% | 29.9% | 4.5% | 1981 | $1,849 | 40.6% | 89.5% | 5.1% |
| Cold Spring | 2.37 | 47.1 | 7.9% | 24.7% | 15.0% | 1964 | $1,988 | 63.5% | 96.9% | 4.2% |
| Nelsonville | 2.67 | 47.2 | 13.3% | 22.7% | 15.7% | 1950 | $2,189 | 61.3% | 96.5% | 4.4% |
| Cornwall On Hudson | 2.39 | 46.2 | 5.2% | 35.7% | 7.2% | 1959 | $1,608 | 54.8% | 97.6% | 5.7% |
| New Windsor | 2.52 | 45.0 | 7.8% | 27.8% | 5.9% | 1979 | $1,546 | 37.4% | 90.0% | 8.3% |
| Cornwall | 2.65 | 38.0 | 10.9% | 30.3% | 7.6% | 1962 | $1,880 | 45.9% | 94.3% | 2.7% |
| Orange Lake | 2.55 | 47.1 | 10.1% | 15.4% | 4.0% | 1982 | $2,490 | 39.2% | 92.9% | 3.6% |
| Wappingers Falls | 2.53 | 45.1 | 7.5% | 31.2% | 3.6% | 1972 | $1,763 | 39.4% | 93.1% | 4.0% |
| Marlboro | 2.67 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.9% | 10.5% | 1979 | $1,776 | 44.4% | 93.6% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Port Wentworth, GA · Melville, NY · Walterboro, SC · Mckinleyville, CA · Cantonment, FL · Riverton, NJ · Cedarburg, WI · Santa Rosa Beach, FL · Prineville, OR · Chardon, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Beacon. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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