Compare towns
Chenango vs Olean vs Fenton vs Barker
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 most people working from home (13.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Fenton has the youngest population (median age 38.5).
Barker has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Olean | Fenton | Barker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
13,738Highest |
6,304 |
2,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY |
40.2±11.7 about the NY average |
| Chenango and Barker 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% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
25.4%±5.1 NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Barker and Fenton 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% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Fenton 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% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
12%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±2.2 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$73,162±$13k 15% below NY |
$64,348±$10k 25% below NY |
| Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$143,900±$12k 66% below NY |
$128,600±$29k 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,021±$312 37% below NY |
$831±$125 49% below NY |
| Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Highest 44% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,952 55% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
40%±16 NY: 52.1% |
33.3%±62.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
20.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80% NY: 54.3% |
94.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
27 minHighest 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Olean 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #399 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
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.