What stands out worked out from the figures below

Binghamton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Oswego has the most kids (21.9% 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.

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

Measure	Binghamton	Oswego
People
Population	47,151Highest	17,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.9±1.6Highest 10% below NY	35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY
	Binghamton and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.9%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.3%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Oswego and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±2Highest NY: 7%	10.1%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Binghamton and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY	$53,172±$4kHighest 38% below NY
	Oswego and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,800±$7kHighest 71% below NY	$120,600±$7kLowest 72% below NY
	Binghamton and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$38Lowest 46% below NY	$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,622Highest 45% below NY	$3,362Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±3.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Oswego and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	32.6%Highest NY: 14%	20.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	44%Lowest NY: 54.3%	50.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 14 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 42% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Binghamton and Oswego 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	#426 of 484 in NY	#285 of 484 in NY
School district	BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL	OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.5Highest
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.