Compare towns
Chenango vs Hamlin vs Williston vs Fenton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chenango has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.
| Measure | Chenango | Hamlin | Williston | Fenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
8,652 |
10,144 |
6,304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
41.9±3.7 8% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.5±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 7% above U.S. |
$83,510±$9k 3% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$73,162±$13kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Williston and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9k 48% below U.S. |
$166,200±$9k 50% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$143,900±$12kLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$1,062±$137 25% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,021±$312Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700 19% above U.S. |
$4,343 39% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,952Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamlin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #399 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 11 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.