Compare towns
Fairmount vs Solvay vs Chenango
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairmount has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
Solvay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Fairmount | Solvay | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,724 |
6,544Lowest |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% NY: +4.2% |
+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.8±3.8 about the NY average |
38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
| Chenango and Fairmount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Fairmount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Solvay and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,225±$7k about the NY average |
$61,166±$7kLowest 29% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Chenango and Fairmount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,000±$10kHighest 57% below NY |
$150,000±$13kLowest 65% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
| Fairmount and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,341±$133Highest 17% below NY |
$946±$77Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,873Highest 26% below NY |
$4,459 32% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±16.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.1%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Fairmount and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NY: 14% |
6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% NY: 54.3% |
51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 40% below NY |
19 minLowest 41% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Fairmount 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 |
| High school 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 |
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.