What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).

Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).

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	Hamlin
People
Population	10,787Highest	8,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±2.8Lowest 3% above NY	41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY
	Hamlin and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango and Hamlin 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%	19.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Chenango and Hamlin 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%	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Chenango and Hamlin 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	$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Chenango and Hamlin 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	$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY
	Chenango and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY	$1,062±$137Highest 34% below NY
	Hamlin and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY	$4,343Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hamlin and Chenango 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%	11.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Chenango and Hamlin 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	—
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
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.