Compare towns
Parma vs Benton 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
Parma has the highest household income ($94k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Parma | Benton | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,111Highest |
2,948Lowest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
| Chenango and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
| Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,000±$15k 48% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY |
| Benton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111 25% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY |
| Benton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$3,391Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Parma and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Benton 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 |
| School district | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 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.