Compare towns
Chenango vs Olean vs Oswego vs Chenango Bridge
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).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Chenango Bridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Oswego | Chenango Bridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
3,116Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
0%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
35.9±4.8 10% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean 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% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±6.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango Bridge and Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango Bridge 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% NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
26.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
$96,250±$27kHighest 12% above NY |
| Chenango Bridge 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±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
$168,200±$15k 60% below NY |
| Chenango and Chenango Bridge 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 |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,109±$72 32% below NY |
$1,134±$122Highest 30% below NY |
| Chenango Bridge and Oswego 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 |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
$3,661 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4 NY: 52.1% |
73.2%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango Bridge and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
24 min 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Chenango Bridge 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 | #285 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.