Compare towns
Chenango vs Middlebury vs Chenango Bridge 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 oldest population (median age 41).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Chenango Bridge has the most kids (27.3% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Chenango Bridge | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
7,220 |
3,116Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Highest 5% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
35.9±4.8 8% below U.S. |
40.7±3.6 5% above U.S. |
| Chenango and Peru 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.3%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango Bridge 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% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango Bridge 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% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$96,250±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Peru and Chenango Bridge 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. |
$417,400±$31kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$168,200±$15kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,201±$120Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,134±$122 20% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Chenango Bridge 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. |
$6,795Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,661Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,357 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chenango Bridge and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.