Compare towns
Chenango vs Strafford vs Vershire 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
Chenango has the youngest population (median age 41).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Vershire has the most renters (18.5% rent).
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.
| Measure | Chenango | Strafford | Vershire | Hamlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
1,372 |
842Lowest |
8,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
41.9±3.7 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Vershire 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$83,510±$9k 3% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55k 37% below U.S. |
$166,200±$9kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
$1,062±$137 25% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,640 49% above U.S. |
$4,343 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Hamlin 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | — | — |
| 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.