Compare towns
Chenango vs Au Sable vs Parma vs Dickinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Au Sable has the most affordable homes ($133k median).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Chenango | Au Sable | Parma | Dickinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
3,156Lowest |
16,111Highest |
5,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+1.2% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
45.4±8Highest 14% above NY |
40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
| Au Sable and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.3%±7.7 NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% NY: 40.2% |
19.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
4.8%±3.1 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$95,069±$36kHighest 11% above NY |
$93,558±$8k 9% above NY |
$77,864±$14kLowest 9% below NY |
| Au Sable and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$133,000±$43kLowest 69% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
$147,400±$17k 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,074±$328 34% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
$941±$68Lowest 42% below NY |
| Parma and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700 44% below NY |
$3,242Lowest 51% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$3,523 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
47.3%±23 NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Parma and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
12%Highest NY: 14% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
76.8% NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Chenango 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 | #248 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 3 photos → | 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.