Compare towns
Castleton vs Chenango vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Castleton | Chenango | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
10,787Highest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.8Highest 5% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6 5% above U.S. |
| Chenango and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,700 19% above U.S. |
$4,357Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #233 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.