Compare towns
Chenango vs Dickinson vs Java 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%).
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Dickinson | Java | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Java and Dickinson 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% |
17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 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% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Peru and Dickinson 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 |
$77,864±$14kLowest 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
| Peru and Java 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 |
$147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$203,200±$38k 52% below NY |
| Java and Peru 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 |
$941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,067±$173Highest 34% 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 | $3,700 44% below NY |
$3,523Lowest 46% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest 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% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 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 | — | — | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY 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.