Compare towns
Chenango vs Evans vs Amherst vs Dickinson
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 the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Evans has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Evans | Amherst | Dickinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
15,183 |
130,546Highest |
5,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
49.5±2.8Highest 24% above NY |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Evans 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% NY: 40.2% |
22.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$72,467±$8kLowest 16% below NY |
$93,483±$2kHighest 9% above NY |
$77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
| Amherst 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 |
$176,500±$10k 58% below NY |
$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
$147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$919±$104Lowest 43% below NY |
$1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
$941±$68 42% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700 44% below NY |
$4,590 30% below NY |
$5,935Highest 10% below NY |
$3,523Lowest 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
25.7%±10.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Amherst and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
11.9%Highest NY: 14% |
10.1% NY: 14% |
8.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
86.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
29 minHighest 11% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Amherst and Dickinson 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 | #180 of 484 in NY | #72 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.