What stands out worked out from the figures below

Murray has the most affordable homes ($124k median).

Chenango has the most expensive homes ($172k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Murray	Chenango
People
Population	4,754Lowest	10,787Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY
	Chenango and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Chenango and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Chenango and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	35.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±2Highest 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	$65,077±$5kLowest 24% below NY	$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY	$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$826±$63Lowest 49% below NY	$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,907Highest 41% below NY	$3,700Lowest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±15.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Chenango and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 20% below NY	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±3.2Highest 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	#430 of 484 in NY	#233 of 484 in NY
School district	HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.1Highest
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.