What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chenango	Orwell
People
Population	10,787Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S.	47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S.
	Orwell 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 U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chenango and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orwell 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 U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chenango and Orwell 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 7% above U.S.	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Chenango and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S.
	Orwell and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S.	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell 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 U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chenango and Orwell 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	—
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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

U.S. 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.