Compare towns
Jerusalem vs Chenango vs Union Vale vs Buchanan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jerusalem has the youngest population (median age 34).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Union Vale has the most kids (26% under 18).
Buchanan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Jerusalem | Chenango | Union Vale | Buchanan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,278 |
10,787Highest |
4,567 |
2,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY |
41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
40.7±4.4 about the NY average |
38.5±3.5 3% below NY |
| Chenango and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
26%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
23%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Union Vale and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.9% NY: 40.2% |
48.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 7% |
5.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,780±$11k about the NY average |
$86,646±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$102,888±$22k 20% above NY |
$128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY |
| Buchanan and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,900±$59k 24% below NY |
$172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY |
$490,900±$45k 16% above NY |
$525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY |
| Buchanan and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$116Lowest 46% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY |
$1,953±$836 20% above NY |
| Union Vale and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523 31% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$9,469 44% above NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±43.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
52.1%±20.8 NY: 52.1% |
34%±23Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Jerusalem and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
7.7% NY: 14% |
5.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.8% NY: 54.3% |
87% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 25% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
40 minHighest 24% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±5.6 NY: 14.9% |
14.2%±6 NY: 14.9% |
| Jerusalem and Union Vale 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 | #89 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.