Compare towns
Chenango vs Dickinson vs Java vs Fenton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Fenton has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Chenango | Dickinson | Java | Fenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
6,304 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY |
| Java and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
25.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Fenton and Chenango 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% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Dickinson 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 NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$73,162±$13kLowest 15% below NY |
| Java 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±$9k 59% below NY |
$147,400±$17k 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$143,900±$12kLowest 66% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,021±$312 37% below NY |
| Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700 44% below NY |
$3,523 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,952Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40%±16 NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Chenango 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 | — | — | #399 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — | CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.

