Compare towns
Dickinson vs Strafford vs Chenango
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Chenango has the youngest population (median age 41).
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 | Dickinson | Strafford | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,001 |
1,372Lowest |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3 10% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 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+ | 21.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dickinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9k 7% 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 | $147,400±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,700 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Dickinson 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 VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.