Compare towns

Chenango vs Reading vs Chenango Bridge vs Hamlin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Chenango Bridge has the most kids (27.3% under 18).
Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k 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.

MeasureChenangoReadingChenango BridgeHamlin
People
Population
10,787Highest
699Lowest
3,116
8,652
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41±2.8
5% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
35.9±4.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.9±3.7
8% above U.S.
Reading and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.3%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.2%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Chenango Bridge and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Chenango and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,646±$9k
7% above U.S.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$96,250±$27kHighest
19% above U.S.
$83,510±$9kLowest
3% above U.S.
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±$9k
48% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
$168,200±$15k
49% below U.S.
$166,200±$9kLowest
50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$97Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,100±$331
22% below U.S.
$1,134±$122Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,062±$137
25% below U.S.
Chenango Bridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,700
19% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$3,661Lowest
17% above U.S.
$4,343
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±13.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Chenango Bridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 — — —
School district CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 — —
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 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.