Compare towns
Chenango vs Caton vs Peru vs Williamson
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).
Caton has the highest household income ($111k).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Williamson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Chenango | Caton | Peru | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
2,082Lowest |
6,710 |
6,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.5±6.6Highest 7% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
| Caton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Peru 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% |
16.3%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Williamson 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% |
36%Highest NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Peru 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±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$110,536±$33kHighest 29% above NY |
$101,771±$22k 18% above NY |
$90,515±$14k 5% above NY |
| Caton and Peru 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 |
$189,500±$21k 55% below NY |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
$192,700±$18k 55% below NY |
| Peru and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$714±$499 56% below NY |
$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
| Peru and Chenango 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 |
$4,572 31% below NY |
$4,357 34% below NY |
$5,172Highest 21% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
0%±96.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru 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%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
93.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
26 minHighest 20% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Williamson 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.7Highest |
8.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.