What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).

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	Clay	Chenango
People
Population	59,995Highest	10,787Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY
	Chenango and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Chenango and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY	$86,646±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Clay and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,900±$6kHighest 51% below NY	$172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY	$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,087Highest 23% below NY	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Clay and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 34% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Chenango and Clay 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	#249 of 484 in NY	#233 of 484 in NY
School district	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.