Compare towns
Williamson vs Williston vs Chenango vs Ontario
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamson has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Ontario has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Williamson | Williston | Chenango | Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823Lowest |
10,144 |
10,787Highest |
10,491 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
45.2±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ontario and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ontario and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,515±$14k 12% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$82,608±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,700±$18k 42% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$233,900±$15k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$882±$172 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,172 66% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$5,251 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±18.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ontario and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Williamson 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 | #221 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT | #233 of 484 in NY | #48 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WAYNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.