1st Advantage MortgageIn Chenango County, New York, the typical household earns $62,948 a year and the typical rent is $875. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Chenango County, NY: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Chenango County
- Renting and owning in Chenango County
- Jobs and commutes in Chenango County
- Chenango County towns compared
- Chenango County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Chenango County median
- Borrowing situations common in Chenango County
- Chenango County households compared
- Checklist for Chenango County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in New York
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Chenango County, NY: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Chenango County's population at 46,321; only 50 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. It covers 893 square miles of land, or about 52 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Chenango County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (8 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Norwich, with about 6,782 residents, or 15% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Chenango County
The median household income in Chenango County is $62,948; statewide it is $85,974, so Chenango County runs 27% below New York as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Chenango County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.9% | +12.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -12.6 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.8%, 2 points lower than the state's 14.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.405 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Chenango County median.
Renting and owning in Chenango County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $875 in Chenango County versus $1,621 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. Home values center on $137,900, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. The median home was built in 1967, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Chenango County | New York | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $875/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,900 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.5% | 2.1% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Jobs and commutes in Chenango County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Chenango County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 6% for New York. The survey's unemployment rate for Chenango County averages 6.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.4%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Chenango County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | -4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.6% | +12.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.6% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -7.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Chenango County towns compared
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Chenango County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 15,579 people, so roughly 66% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $58,452 at the median in Bainbridge, $37,031 in Afton. Median rent ranges from $690 in Greene to $924 in Oxford. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich | city | 6,782 | $53,333 | $867 | 6 mi |
| Greene | village | 1,567 | $57,386 | $690 | 13 mi |
| Oxford | village | 1,514 | $56,250 | $924 | 3 mi |
| Sherburne | village | 1,422 | $45,129 | $793 | 15 mi |
| Afton | village | 1,225 | $37,031 | $800 | 18 mi |
| Bainbridge | village | 1,181 | $58,452 | $723 | 14 mi |
| New Berlin | village | 989 | $48,958 | $868 | 17 mi |
| Guilford | CDP | 385 | $71,354 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Smithville Flats | CDP | 366 | $58,229 | $958 | 12 mi |
| Smyrna | village | 148 | $31,250 | $925 | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Chenango County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 25 to 41 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $62,616 in Broome County to $75,499 in Madison County; 5 of these neighbors top Chenango County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chenango County | - | $62,948 | $875/mo | 75% |
| Broome County, NY | 25 mi | $62,616 | $941/mo | 65% |
| Cortland County, NY | 25 mi | $70,418 | $984/mo | 66% |
| Madison County, NY | 30 mi | $75,499 | $928/mo | 78% |
| Otsego County, NY | 31 mi | $68,885 | $987/mo | 74% |
| Delaware County, NY | 38 mi | $63,337 | $880/mo | 77% |
| Tioga County, NY | 41 mi | $72,739 | $928/mo | 79% |
Budget math at the Chenango County median
Chenango County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $62,948 a year is $5,246 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $875, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,836 total minus rent leaves $961
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,486 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Chenango County
What the Chenango County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 45, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Chenango County households compared
20% of Chenango County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 3% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Chenango County | New York | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Chenango County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Checklist for Chenango County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chenango County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A New York license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Chenango County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in New York
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Chenango County, check the New York State Department of Financial Services. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Related local guides
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chenango County?
$62,948 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $85,974 for New York. It ranks 56th of 62 in the state.
What do renters pay in Chenango County?
$875 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I own my home in Chenango County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Chenango County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Norwich, Greene, Oxford, Sherburne, Afton.
Does living in Chenango County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Chenango County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.