Compare towns

Brutus vs Chenango vs Mentz

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brutus has the oldest population (median age 43.6).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k 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.

MeasureBrutusChenangoMentz
People
Population
4,269
10,787Highest
1,753Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
NY: +4.2%
-2.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-11.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
43.6±3.5Highest
10% above NY
41±2.8Lowest
3% above NY
43.1±5.3
8% above NY
Brutus and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
22.7%±3Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±3.5
NY: 20.5%
Chenango and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±2.6
NY: 17.9%
23.6%±3.4Highest
NY: 17.9%
Mentz and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.2%
NY: 40.2%
35.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
9.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
4.8%±2Highest
NY: 7%
3.7%±3.4
NY: 7%
Chenango and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,031±$10k
10% below NY
$86,646±$9kHighest
about the NY average
$52,602±$5kLowest
39% below NY
Chenango and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$154,900±$14k
63% below NY
$172,000±$9kHighest
59% below NY
$115,500±$31kLowest
73% below NY
Chenango and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,114±$122Highest
31% below NY
$1,038±$97Lowest
36% below NY
$1,045±$130
36% below NY
Brutus and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,294Highest
35% below NY
$3,700
44% below NY
$2,901Lowest
56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.9%±25.8
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±8.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
55.3%±24.4Highest
NY: 52.1%
Mentz and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.2%
NY: 14%
9.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
20%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
85.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
74.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
15 yrs newer than NY
1964
5 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
18% below NY
24 minLowest
27% below NY
29 minHighest
13% below NY
Work from home
8.9%±3.9
NY: 14.9%
13.8%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
3.8%±3.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Chenango and Brutus 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 #313 of 484 in NY #233 of 484 in NY —
School district WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
9.2Lowest
11.1
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.