Compare towns
Chenango vs Windham vs Dickinson vs Peru
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Windham | Dickinson | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
594Lowest |
5,001 |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.7±3.3 10% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango and Peru 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Dickinson 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$77,864±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Peru and Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$147,400±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
— | $941±$68Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Peru and Chenango 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,523Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,357 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.8%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Chenango 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older 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 |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Dickinson 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 |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| 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.