Compare towns

Dickinson vs Parma vs Chenango vs Union

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dickinson has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Union has the most renters (41.1% rent).

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.

MeasureDickinsonParmaChenangoUnion
People
Population
5,001Lowest
16,111
10,787
55,078Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+3.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-2.6%
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
42.7±3.3Highest
7% above NY
40.4±3.3Lowest
about the NY average
41±2.8
3% above NY
41.4±1.2
4% above NY
Dickinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.6%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
25.6%±3.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
22.7%±3
NY: 20.5%
19%±1.3
NY: 20.5%
Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±4
NY: 17.9%
18.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±2.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
21.4%±1.3
NY: 17.9%
Chenango and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
35.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
35.2%
NY: 40.2%
33%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
NY: 7%
4.3%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
4.8%±2
NY: 7%
6.1%±0.9
NY: 7%
Dickinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,864±$14k
9% below NY
$93,558±$8kHighest
9% above NY
$86,646±$9k
about the NY average
$61,713±$2kLowest
28% below NY
Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$147,400±$17kLowest
65% below NY
$220,000±$15kHighest
48% below NY
$172,000±$9k
59% below NY
$149,900±$5k
65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$941±$68
42% below NY
$1,216±$111Highest
25% below NY
$1,038±$97
36% below NY
$936±$37Lowest
42% below NY
Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,523Lowest
46% below NY
$5,549Highest
16% below NY
$3,700
44% below NY
$4,200
36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.8%±13.8Lowest
NY: 52.1%
49.8%±15.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±8.7
NY: 52.1%
49.2%±5.6
NY: 52.1%
Parma and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%
NY: 14%
8.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
9.1%
NY: 14%
16.2%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.6%
NY: 54.3%
82.3%
NY: 54.3%
85.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
58.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1976Highest
17 yrs newer than NY
1964
5 yrs newer than NY
1955
4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
48% below NY
22 min
32% below NY
24 minHighest
27% below NY
18 min
46% below NY
Work from home
14.4%±5.9Highest
NY: 14.9%
10.3%±2.2
NY: 14.9%
13.8%±3.2
NY: 14.9%
9%±1.5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Dickinson 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 — #88 of 484 in NY #233 of 484 in NY #199 of 484 in NY
School district CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town HILTON HIGH SCHOOL CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9Highest
11.1Lowest
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.