Compare towns
Solvay vs Chenango vs Syracuse vs Fairmount
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 people working from home (13.8%).
Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Fairmount has the most expensive homes ($184k 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.
| Measure | Solvay | Chenango | Syracuse | Fairmount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,544Lowest |
10,787 |
146,384Highest |
9,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+0.2% 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 |
39.8±3.8 about the NY average |
| Chenango and Fairmount 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% |
21%±4 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% |
19.9%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Fairmount 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% NY: 40.2% |
31.2% NY: 40.2% |
41.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.5 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$84,225±$7k about the NY average |
| Chenango and Fairmount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$13k 65% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$184,000±$10kHighest 57% below NY |
| Fairmount and Chenango 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±$20 36% below NY |
$1,341±$133Highest 17% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,459 32% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$3,210Lowest 51% below NY |
$4,873Highest 26% 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% |
47.7%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Syracuse and Fairmount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
28.8%Highest NY: 14% |
8.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.3% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.7% 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 |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 41% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
19 min 40% 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% |
11.6%±2.9 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 | 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.