Compare towns
Chenango vs Reading vs Peru 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Reading | Peru | Parma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
699Lowest |
6,710 |
16,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6 5% above U.S. |
40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$93,558±$8k 16% above U.S. |
| Peru 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±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
$220,000±$15k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
$1,216±$111Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Parma and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,357 40% above U.S. |
$5,549 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
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.