Compare towns
Chenango vs Hamlin vs Seward vs Corning
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%).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Seward has the most expensive homes ($199k median).
Corning has the shortest commute (20 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 | Hamlin | Seward | Corning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
8,652 |
2,055Lowest |
5,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY |
39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
41.6±3.6 5% above NY |
| Hamlin and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
24.8%±4 NY: 20.5% |
| Seward and Corning 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%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Corning 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% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
4.7%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Seward 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±$9k about the NY average |
$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$86,786±$20k about the NY average |
$88,482±$10kHighest about the NY average |
| Corning and Seward 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 |
$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY |
$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY |
$167,600±$14k 60% below NY |
| Seward and Chenango 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±$137 34% below NY |
$1,180±$201 27% below NY |
$1,289±$219Highest 20% below NY |
| Corning and Seward 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 |
$3,855 41% below NY |
$3,895 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
39.1%±15 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% NY: 14% |
11.5% NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
8.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.5% NY: 54.3% |
86% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
28 min 15% below NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
20 minLowest 38% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
8.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Seward 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 | — | — | #393 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 4.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.