What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fenton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Portland has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Fenton	Portland
People
Population	6,304Highest	3,924Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY	38.9±3.9Highest about the NY average
	Portland and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Fenton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	20.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Fenton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Portland and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,162±$13kHighest 15% below NY	$66,333±$10kLowest 23% below NY
	Fenton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$143,900±$12kHighest 66% below NY	$139,500±$18kLowest 67% below NY
	Fenton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$312Highest 37% below NY	$753±$94Lowest 54% below NY
	Fenton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,952Lowest 55% below NY	$3,066Highest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±16Highest NY: 52.1%	35%±19.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Fenton and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%	19.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	7.1%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9%	6.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Fenton and Portland 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	#399 of 484 in NY	#480 of 484 in NY
School district	CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BROCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL	BROCTON MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	8.5Lowest
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.