What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Milton
People
Population	10,787Lowest	19,036Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±2.8Lowest 3% above NY	42.2±2.3Highest 6% above NY
	Milton 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%	21.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango and Milton 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%	16%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2 NY: 7%	4.8%±1.1 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,646±$9kLowest about the NY average	$100,322±$9kHighest 17% above NY
	Milton 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±$9kLowest 59% below NY	$311,500±$19kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY	$1,423±$89Highest 12% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY	$4,385Highest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±10.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Chenango and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	25 minHighest 23% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.5%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Milton 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	#330 of 484 in NY
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
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.