Compare towns
Chenango vs Orwell 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
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 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 | Orwell | Parma | Dickinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
1,294Lowest |
16,111Highest |
5,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest 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. |
42.7±3.3 10% above U.S. |
| Orwell and Dickinson 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.9Lowest 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% |
21.1%±4 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% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dickinson 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 7% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,558±$8kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$77,864±$14k 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. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$220,000±$15k 34% below U.S. |
$147,400±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,216±$111Highest 14% below U.S. |
$941±$68Lowest 33% 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 | $3,700 19% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$5,549Highest 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% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 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 min 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dickinson 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 | — | #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 | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.