Compare towns
Chenango vs Java vs Barker vs Hamlin
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%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Barker has the most affordable homes ($129k 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 | Java | Barker | Hamlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,405 |
8,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40.2±11.7Lowest about the NY average |
41.9±3.7 5% above NY |
| Java 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 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Barker 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% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.9%±3.2 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
12%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±2.2 NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.3 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±$9k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$64,348±$10kLowest 25% below NY |
$83,510±$9k about the NY average |
| Java 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 59% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$128,600±$29kLowest 70% below NY |
$166,200±$9k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$831±$125Lowest 49% 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 | $3,700 44% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$4,343Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
33.3%±62.5 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% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.5%Highest NY: 14% |
11.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
94.4% NY: 54.3% |
89.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 27% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
28 minHighest 15% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.2 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 | 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.