Compare towns
Chenango vs Erwin vs Maine 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 the most people working from home (13.8%).
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Maine has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Erwin | Maine | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
7,965 |
5,089Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
43.8±2 10% above NY |
57.1±10Highest 43% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
17.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Maine 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% NY: 40.2% |
49.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2Lowest 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 |
$88,333±$16k about the NY average |
$69,115±$19kLowest 20% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
| Peru and Erwin 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 |
$223,700±$26kHighest 47% below NY |
$156,100±$44kLowest 63% below NY |
$203,200±$38k 52% below NY |
| Erwin 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 |
$1,271±$136Highest 22% below NY |
$939±$49Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
| Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$5,829Highest 11% below NY |
$3,828 42% below NY |
$4,357 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1% |
26.1%±14.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Erwin 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% |
9.3% NY: 14% |
11.6%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
15 minLowest 54% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.6%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Maine 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 | #431 of 484 in NY | #369 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | MAINE-ENDWELL CENTRAL 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 |
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.