Compare towns
Dickinson vs Peru vs Chenango
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Peru has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
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 | Dickinson | Peru | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,001Lowest |
6,710 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3Highest 7% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
| Dickinson and Chenango 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% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Peru 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% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Dickinson 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% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
| 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 | $77,864±$14kLowest 9% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
| Peru 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 |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
| Peru 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 |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.