Compare towns
Chenango vs Parma vs Seward
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).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Seward has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Parma | Seward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,787 |
16,111Highest |
2,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
40.4±3.3 about the NY average |
39.5±8Lowest 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% |
25.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Seward and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Parma 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% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Seward 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 |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
$86,786±$20k about the NY average |
| Parma and Seward 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 |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
$198,500±$25k 53% below NY |
| Parma and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
$1,180±$201 27% below NY |
| Parma and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$3,855 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Parma 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% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
82.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
22 minLowest 32% below NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Seward 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 | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | 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 |
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.