Compare towns
Chenango vs Fairmount vs Solvay vs Maine
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 people working from home (13.8%).
Fairmount has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
Solvay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Maine has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Fairmount | Solvay | Maine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
9,724 |
6,544 |
5,089Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+0.2% NY: +4.2% |
+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
39.8±3.8 about the NY average |
38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average |
57.1±10Highest 43% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
21%±4 NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
15.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Solvay 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% |
19.9%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Maine 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% |
41.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Solvay 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±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$84,225±$7k about the NY average |
$61,166±$7kLowest 29% below NY |
$69,115±$19k 20% below NY |
| Chenango and Fairmount 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 |
$184,000±$10kHighest 57% below NY |
$150,000±$13kLowest 65% below NY |
$156,100±$44k 63% below NY |
| Fairmount and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,341±$133Highest 17% below NY |
$946±$77 42% below NY |
$939±$49Lowest 42% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$4,873Highest 26% below NY |
$4,459 32% below NY |
$3,828 42% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
47.7%±16.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.1%±9.2 NY: 52.1% |
26.1%±14.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Fairmount 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% |
8.2% NY: 14% |
6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.7% NY: 54.3% |
51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
19 min 40% below NY |
19 minLowest 41% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.6%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Fairmount 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 | — | — | #369 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | MAINE-ENDWELL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.