What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Barton
People
Population	10,787Highest	2,815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S.	44.9±6.5Highest 15% above U.S.
	Barton and Chenango 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%	20.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,646±$9kHighest 7% above U.S.	$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Chenango and Barton 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.	$201,200±$28kHighest 40% below U.S.
	Barton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Highest 27% below U.S.	$793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Highest 19% above U.S.	$3,355Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chenango and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.9%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 minLowest 10% below U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chenango and Barton 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	#233 of 484 in NY	#38 of 70 in VT
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	Lake Region Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.5Lowest
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.