Compare towns
Chenango vs Jay vs Williamson vs Fenton
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Williamson has the most people working from home (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 | Jay | Williamson | Fenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
2,354Lowest |
6,823 |
6,304 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.8% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY |
40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
25.4%±5.1Highest 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% |
25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Jay 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% |
31.4% NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Williamson 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 |
$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
$90,515±$14kHighest 5% above NY |
$73,162±$13k 15% below NY |
| Williamson 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 |
$196,900±$22kHighest 54% below NY |
$192,700±$18k 55% below NY |
$143,900±$12kLowest 66% below NY |
| Jay and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,021±$312 37% below NY |
| Jay 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 |
$3,741 43% below NY |
$5,172Highest 21% below NY |
$2,952Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40%±16 NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
12.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.9% NY: 54.3% |
80%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Williamson 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 | — | #221 of 484 in NY | #399 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 8.3Lowest |
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.