What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).

Fenton has the most affordable homes ($144k median).

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	Fenton
People
Population	10,787Highest	6,304Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY	38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY
	Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Lowest 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%	20.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Chenango and Fenton 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%	21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Chenango and Fenton 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	$73,162±$13kLowest 15% below NY
	Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY	$143,900±$12kLowest 66% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY	$1,021±$312Lowest 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	$3,700Highest 44% below NY	$2,952Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1%	40%±16Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 14%	12.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	80%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 27% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7.1%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
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
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	13.2Highest
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.