Compare towns
Union vs Chenango vs Johnson City
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 41.4).
Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Union | Chenango | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,078Highest |
10,787Lowest |
14,940 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.2Highest 4% above NY |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
40.7±3.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Union and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±0.9 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Johnson City and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,713±$2k 28% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$56,283±$4kLowest 35% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$117,100±$4kLowest 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$37Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$1,031±$66 36% below NY |
| Chenango and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,200Highest 36% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$3,982 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Johnson City and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2% NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 46% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
17 minLowest 49% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Johnson City 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 | #199 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.