Compare towns
Au Sable vs Chenango vs Peru vs Manheim
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Au Sable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Peru has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Manheim has the most affordable homes ($119k 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 | Au Sable | Chenango | Peru | Manheim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,156 |
10,787Highest |
6,710 |
3,058Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-7.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.4±8Highest 14% above NY |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
43.3±3.8 9% above NY |
| Au Sable and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±7.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
22.6%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.7%±4 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.3% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
18.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Peru and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,069±$36k 11% above NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$69,527±$21kLowest 19% below NY |
| Peru and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,000±$43k 69% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
$118,500±$24kLowest 72% below NY |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$328Highest 34% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
$828±$87Lowest 49% below NY |
| Au Sable and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,242 51% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
$2,627Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±23 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
8.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 21% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
9.4%±5.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Peru 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 | #248 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY | #238 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DOLGEVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | JAMES A GREEN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1 |
11.7Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 3 photos → | 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.