Compare towns
Chenango vs Fenton vs Olean 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Fenton has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Fenton | Olean | Dickinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
6,304 |
1,664Lowest |
5,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
25.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9 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%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
| Olean 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2Highest 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±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$73,162±$13kLowest 15% below NY |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
| Chenango and Dickinson 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 |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$147,400±$17k 65% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$1,021±$312 37% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$941±$68 42% 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 |
$2,952Lowest 55% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,523 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
40%±16 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean 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% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
8.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80% NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9Highest 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 | #337 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 | CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| 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.