Compare towns
Chenango vs Big Flats vs Parma
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 affordable homes ($172k median).
Big Flats has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Big Flats | Parma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,787 |
7,592Lowest |
16,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.8% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
43.5±3.6Highest 9% above NY |
40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
| Big Flats and Chenango 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% |
22%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3Highest 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%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Big Flats and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
51.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$87,044±$11k about the NY average |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
| Parma and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY |
$218,500±$15k 48% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
| Parma and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,345±$111Highest 17% below NY |
$1,216±$111 25% below NY |
| Big Flats and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$4,765 28% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
37%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
5.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
17 minLowest 47% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.3%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Big Flats 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 | #118 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.