Compare towns
Parma vs Mendon vs Chenango
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Parma has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mendon | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,111Highest |
1,113Lowest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8k 16% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,000±$15k 34% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111 14% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,549Highest 78% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.