Compare towns
Solvay vs Chenango vs Syracuse
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solvay has the oldest housing (typical home built 1947).
Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Solvay | Chenango | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,544Lowest |
10,787 |
146,384Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 38.9±2.3 about the NY average |
41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
| Chenango and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±0.7Lowest 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+ | 19.1%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.5 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,166±$7k 29% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$13k 65% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
| Chenango and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $946±$77Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,039±$20Highest 36% below NY |
| Syracuse and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,459Highest 32% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$3,210Lowest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
28.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.3% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1948 11 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 41% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
12%±1.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Syracuse 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 | #472 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.