Compare towns

Parma vs Durham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Durham has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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.

MeasureParmaDurhamChenango
People
Population
16,111Highest
2,641Lowest
10,787
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.6%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.6%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.4±3.3Lowest
about the NY average
48.8±5.1Highest
23% above NY
41±2.8
3% above NY
Durham and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.6%±3.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
18.3%±5.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
22.7%±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+
18.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 17.9%
24.2%±7Highest
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±2.6
NY: 17.9%
Durham 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%
28.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
35.2%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.2
NY: 7%
1.3%±1.2Lowest
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
$81,471±$15kLowest
5% 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
$245,300±$26kHighest
42% below NY
$172,000±$9kLowest
59% below NY
Durham and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,216±$111Highest
25% below NY
$994±$844Lowest
39% below NY
$1,038±$97
36% 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
$5,549Highest
16% below NY
$3,728
43% below NY
$3,700Lowest
44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.8%±15.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
19.3%±40.8Lowest
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%
NY: 14%
4.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
9.1%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
92%Highest
NY: 54.3%
85.3%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
17 yrs newer than NY
1976Highest
17 yrs newer than NY
1964Lowest
5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
32% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
24 min
27% below NY
Work from home
10.3%±2.2Lowest
NY: 14.9%
13%±7.8
NY: 14.9%
13.8%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
Chenango and Durham 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 #100 of 484 in NY #233 of 484 in NY
School district HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town HILTON HIGH SCHOOL CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Highest
7.9Lowest
11.1
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.