Compare towns
Busti vs Chenango vs Parma vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Parma has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).
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 | Busti | Chenango | Parma | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,452Lowest |
10,787 |
16,111Highest |
8,219 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+53.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
46.6±2.5Highest 17% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.8%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Busti and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2% NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
30% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,292±$9kLowest 22% below NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
$77,601±$6k 10% below NY |
| Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,600±$12kLowest 61% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
$202,100±$11k 52% below NY |
| Parma and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106 33% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
$900±$127Lowest 44% below NY |
| Parma and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,876 41% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$3,656Lowest 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
26%±6.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Busti and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
74% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Vernon 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 | #88 of 484 in NY | #368 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 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.