What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Arlington
People
Population	10,787Highest	2,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.8Highest 5% above U.S.	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Chenango and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chenango and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chenango and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chenango and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S.	$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Arlington and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S.	$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S.
	Arlington and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S.	$4,549Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#233 of 484 in NY	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Arlington School District
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.6Lowest
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.