Compare towns

Collins vs Chenango vs Murray

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Collins has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Chenango has the highest household income ($87k).
Murray has the most affordable homes ($124k 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.

MeasureCollinsChenangoMurray
People
Population
4,643Lowest
10,787Highest
4,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.8%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.5±6.2
about the NY average
41±2.8Highest
3% above NY
40.3±2.8Lowest
about the NY average
Chenango and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.4%±6.6Highest
NY: 20.5%
22.7%±3
NY: 20.5%
20.5%±4.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Collins and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.3%±3.8
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±2.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
17.9%±3.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Chenango and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
35.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
16.9%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
4.8%±2Highest
NY: 7%
2.1%±1.2
NY: 7%
Chenango and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,905±$5kLowest
29% below NY
$86,646±$9kHighest
about the NY average
$65,077±$5k
24% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$153,000±$11k
64% below NY
$172,000±$9kHighest
59% below NY
$123,800±$14kLowest
71% below NY
Chenango and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$799±$90Lowest
51% below NY
$1,038±$97Highest
36% below NY
$826±$63
49% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,501Lowest
62% below NY
$3,700
44% below NY
$3,907Highest
41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±38.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±8.7
NY: 52.1%
38.9%±15.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Collins 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
NY: 14%
9.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
10%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%
NY: 54.3%
85.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
9 yrs older than NY
1964Highest
5 yrs newer than NY
1952
7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
26% below NY
24 minLowest
27% below NY
26 minHighest
20% below NY
Work from home
11%±5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
13.8%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
12.8%±6.4
NY: 14.9%
Chenango and Murray 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 #467 of 484 in NY #233 of 484 in NY #430 of 484 in NY
School district GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.