Compare towns
Chenango vs Middlebury vs Parma vs Dickinson
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 homeowners (85.3%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Parma has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Dickinson has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Parma | Dickinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
9,175 |
16,111Highest |
5,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
40.4±3.3 4% above U.S. |
42.7±3.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Dickinson and Chenango 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$93,558±$8kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$77,864±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Parma 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 48% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$220,000±$15k 34% below U.S. |
$147,400±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$1,216±$111Highest 14% below U.S. |
$941±$68Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Parma and Middlebury 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. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,549 78% above U.S. |
$3,523Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury and Parma 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #88 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | Middlebury Union High School | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.9 |
— |
| 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.