What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ogden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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	Ogden
People
Population	10,787Lowest	20,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY	39.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average
	Chenango and Ogden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.8%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ogden 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%	17.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	38%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Lowest NY: 7%	6%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Ogden 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±$9kLowest about the NY average	$91,563±$7kHighest 7% above NY
	Ogden 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	$235,200±$13kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY	$1,233±$75Highest 24% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY	$6,496Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	44.5%±7.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ogden and Chenango 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%	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 27% below NY	20 minLowest 40% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.9%±2.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ogden 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	#170 of 484 in NY
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPENCERPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	SPENCERPORT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.0Lowest
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.