What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango Bridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Seward has the most expensive homes ($199k 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	Chenango Bridge	Seward
People
Population	3,116Highest	2,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.9±4.8Lowest 10% below NY	39.5±8Highest about the NY average
	Seward and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.3%±6.7Highest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango Bridge and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Seward and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$27kHighest 12% above NY	$86,786±$20kLowest about the NY average
	Chenango Bridge and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,200±$15kLowest 60% below NY	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY
	Seward and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,134±$122Lowest 30% below NY	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY
	Seward and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,661Lowest 44% below NY	$3,855Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Chenango Bridge and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 28% below NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	11.2%±7.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.