Compare towns
Collins vs Chenango vs Murray vs Persia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Collins has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Chenango has the highest household income ($87k).
Murray has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Persia has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
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 | Collins | Chenango | Murray | Persia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,643 |
10,787Highest |
4,754 |
2,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.2 about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average |
41.7±15Highest 5% above NY |
| Persia and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±5.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Collins and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Persia and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.9% NY: 40.2% |
12.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,905±$5k 29% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$65,077±$5k 24% below NY |
$54,495±$8kLowest 37% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,000±$11k 64% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$123,800±$14k 71% below NY |
$100,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY |
| Chenango and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $799±$90 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$826±$63 49% below NY |
$765±$65Lowest 53% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,501Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$3,907Highest 41% below NY |
$2,655 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±15.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
56.1%±16 NY: 52.1% |
| Collins and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
21.9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 9 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 26% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
27 minHighest 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 11%±5 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±6.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Murray 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 | #467 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY | #430 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.