What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Chenango has the shortest commute (24 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barton	Chenango
People
Population	2,815Lowest	10,787Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±6.5Highest 15% above U.S.	41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Barton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$86,646±$9kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,200±$28kHighest 40% below U.S.	$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Barton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,038±$97Highest 27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,355Lowest 8% above U.S.	$3,700Highest 19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chenango and Barton 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	#38 of 70 in VT	#233 of 484 in NY
School district	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Lake Region Union High School	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.