Compare towns
Chenango vs Orwell vs Parma
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 affordable homes ($172k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Orwell | Parma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,787 |
1,294Lowest |
16,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±3.3Highest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,558±$8kHighest 16% above 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±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$220,000±$15k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,216±$111Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Parma and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$5,549Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chenango and Orwell 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 | — | #88 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.