Compare towns
Chenango vs Collins vs Hamlin vs Peru
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Collins has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Peru has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
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 | Collins | Hamlin | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
4,643Lowest |
8,652 |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average |
41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY |
40.7±3.6 about the NY average |
| Hamlin 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% |
24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Collins 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% |
21.3%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.9%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest 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±$9k about the NY average |
$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY |
$83,510±$9k about the NY average |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
| Peru and Chenango 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 |
$153,000±$11kLowest 64% below NY |
$166,200±$9k 61% below NY |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
| Peru and Chenango 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 |
$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,062±$137 34% below NY |
$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY |
| Peru and Hamlin 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 |
$2,501Lowest 62% below NY |
$4,343 34% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
59.4%±38.2 NY: 52.1% |
59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Hamlin and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
11.5%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
82.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
28 minHighest 15% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11%±5 NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Hamlin 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 | #467 of 484 in NY | — | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — | 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 | 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.