What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Clay
People
Population	10,787Lowest	59,995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average
	Chenango and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%	4.4%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Chenango and Clay 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 about the NY average	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY
	Clay 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 59% below NY	$205,900±$6kHighest 51% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY	$5,087Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	46.6%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Clay and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest NY: 14%	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 27% below NY	21 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Chenango and Clay 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	#249 of 484 in NY
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	14.0Highest
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.