What stands out worked out from the figures below

Murray has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 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	Murray	Dickinson
People
Population	4,754Lowest	5,001Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average	42.7±3.3Highest 7% above NY
	Dickinson and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5%	17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Murray and Dickinson 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%	21.1%±4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Dickinson 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%	32%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,077±$5kLowest 24% below NY	$77,864±$14kHighest 9% below NY
	Dickinson and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY	$147,400±$17kHighest 65% below NY
	Dickinson and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$826±$63Lowest 49% below NY	$941±$68Highest 42% below NY
	Dickinson and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,907Highest 41% below NY	$3,523Lowest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1%	35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Murray and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest NY: 14%	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952 7 yrs older than NY	1952 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 20% below NY	17 minLowest 48% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Dickinson 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	—
School district	HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.