Compare towns
Chenango vs Parma vs Wells vs Williamson
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).
Parma has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Williamson has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Wells | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
16,111Highest |
1,148Lowest |
6,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±4.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chenango and Williamson 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. |
$93,558±$8kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$90,515±$14k 12% above U.S. |
| Parma and Williamson 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. |
$220,000±$15k 34% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$192,700±$18k 42% below U.S. |
| Wells and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$1,216±$111 14% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Wells and Parma 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. |
$5,549Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,172 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamson 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 | — | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
— | 8.3Lowest |
| 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.