Compare towns
Chenango vs Olean vs Chenango Bridge vs Parma
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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chenango Bridge has the youngest population (median age 35.9).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Olean | Chenango Bridge | Parma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
13,738 |
3,116Lowest |
16,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
0% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.9±4.8Lowest 10% below NY |
40.4±3.3 about the NY average |
| Chenango and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±6.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango Bridge and Parma 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% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| 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% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Parma 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 |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$96,250±$27kHighest 12% above NY |
$93,558±$8k 9% above NY |
| Chenango Bridge and Parma 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 |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$168,200±$15k 60% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,134±$122 30% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
| Parma 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 44% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,661 44% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
73.2%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango Bridge and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 28% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Chenango Bridge 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — | #88 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | 11.9 |
| 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.