Compare towns
Chenango vs Milton vs Pendleton 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 affordable homes ($172k median).
Milton has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Milton | Pendleton | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
19,036Highest |
7,034 |
6,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+1.2% NY: +4.2% |
+10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.2±2.3 6% above NY |
46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Pendleton and Milton 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% |
21.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.8 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% |
16%±2.2 NY: 17.9% |
23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Pendleton 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% |
37.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
34.9% NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest 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±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$100,322±$9k 17% above NY |
$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY |
$101,771±$22k 18% above NY |
| Pendleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY |
$311,500±$19kHighest 26% below NY |
$294,300±$39k 31% below NY |
$203,200±$38k 52% below NY |
| Milton and Pendleton 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 |
$1,423±$89Highest 12% below NY |
$994±$119Lowest 39% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$4,385 33% below NY |
$6,623Highest about the NY average |
$4,357 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
36.8%±10.1 NY: 52.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
25 minHighest 23% below NY |
23 min 31% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
15.5%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton and Milton 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 | #330 of 484 in NY | #67 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.5Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.