What stands out worked out from the figures below

Veteran has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Chenango has the highest household income ($87k).

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	Veteran	Chenango
People
Population	3,269Lowest	10,787Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38±6.6Lowest 5% below NY	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY
	Chenango and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Veteran and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±6.9Highest NY: 17.9%	22.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Veteran and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Chenango and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,341±$19kLowest 24% below NY	$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average
	Chenango and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,400±$25kLowest 60% below NY	$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY
	Chenango and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$787±$54Lowest 51% below NY	$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,176Lowest 52% below NY	$3,700Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.9%±23.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Chenango and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3% NY: 54.3%	85.3% NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 29% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	10.9%±7.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Chenango and Veteran 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
School district	—	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
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.