Compare towns
Chenango vs Milo vs Starkey 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%).
Milo has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Starkey has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
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 | Milo | Starkey | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
6,823 |
3,381Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.7±5.2Highest 7% above NY |
41.3±2.5 4% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Milo and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Starkey 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% |
27.8%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Milo 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% |
22.8% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$62,500±$9k 27% below NY |
$55,064±$7kLowest 36% 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 |
$165,200±$16k 61% below NY |
$145,700±$17kLowest 66% 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 |
$733±$137Lowest 55% below NY |
$744±$96 54% 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 |
$3,425 48% below NY |
$3,412Lowest 48% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
34.6%±13.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.3% NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
16 minLowest 51% below NY |
26 minHighest 20% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Starkey 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 | #84 of 484 in NY | #358 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PENN YAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | PENN YAN ACADEMY | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.8 |
8.8Lowest |
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.