What stands out worked out from the figures below

Big Flats has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

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	Big Flats	Chenango
People
Population	7,592Lowest	10,787Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.5±3.6Highest 9% above NY	41±2.8Lowest 3% above NY
	Big Flats and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	22.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Big Flats and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Chenango and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,044±$11kHighest about the NY average	$86,646±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Big Flats and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,500±$15kHighest 48% below NY	$172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,345±$111Highest 17% below NY	$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,765Highest 28% below NY	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Chenango and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 47% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Big Flats and Chenango 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	#118 of 484 in NY	#233 of 484 in NY
School district	HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
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.