Compare towns
Athens vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).
Chester has the most kids (15.1% 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.
| Measure | Athens | Chester |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,936Highest |
3,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.3Lowest 31% above NY |
54.1±6.7Highest 36% above NY |
| Chester and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chester and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chester and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Athens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $84,896±$14kHighest about the NY average |
$84,623±$20kLowest about the NY average |
| Athens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,700±$31kLowest 35% below NY |
$306,400±$38kHighest 28% below NY |
| Chester and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$480Highest 22% below NY |
$868±$163Lowest 46% below NY |
| Athens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Highest 34% below NY |
$2,924Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31%±12.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.6%±27.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Athens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% NY: 14% |
6.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Athens and Chester 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 | #261 of 484 in NY | #307 of 484 in NY |
| School district | COXSACKIE-ATHENS 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.