Compare towns
Chenango vs Dickinson vs Olean 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).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Dickinson | Olean | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
5,001 |
1,664Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest 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%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%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% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$14k 9% below NY |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$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 |
$147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% 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 |
$941±$68 42% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% 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 |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
8.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #337 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.