Compare towns
Chenango vs Dickinson vs Mendon 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Dickinson has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mendon | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
5,001 |
1,113Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
42.7±3.3 10% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$77,864±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Peru and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9k 48% below U.S. |
$147,400±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$941±$68Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700 19% above U.S. |
$3,523Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,357 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Dickinson 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 |
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.