Compare towns
Chenango vs Cornwall vs Strafford 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
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 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 | Cornwall | Strafford | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Strafford 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 7% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,357 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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 |
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.