Compare towns
Barker vs Chenango vs Java vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barker has the most kids (27.3% under 18).
Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Barker | Chenango | Java | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,405 |
10,787Highest |
2,049Lowest |
3,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-10%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.2±11.7Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
41.9±6.6 5% above NY |
| Java and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.3%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Barker and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
15.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Barker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,348±$10k 25% below NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$63,226±$15kLowest 26% below NY |
| Java and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $128,600±$29k 70% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$127,100±$28kLowest 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $831±$125Lowest 49% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,031±$388 36% below NY |
| Chenango and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810 57% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,456Lowest 63% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±62.5 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40%±22.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.5%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Norwich 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 | — | #233 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.