Compare towns
Parma vs Starkey vs Chenango vs Milton
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%).
Starkey has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
Chenango has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($312k 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 | Starkey | Chenango | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,111 |
3,381Lowest |
10,787 |
19,036Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+1.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
41.3±2.5 4% above NY |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
42.2±2.3Highest 6% above NY |
| Milton and Starkey 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% |
22.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
16%±2.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2% NY: 40.2% |
37.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,558±$8k 9% above NY |
$55,064±$7kLowest 36% below NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$100,322±$9kHighest 17% above NY |
| Milton 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 48% below NY |
$145,700±$17kLowest 66% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$311,500±$19kHighest 26% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111 25% below NY |
$744±$96Lowest 54% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,423±$89Highest 12% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$3,412Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$4,385 33% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
36.8%±10.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Parma and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% NY: 54.3% |
73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
26 minHighest 20% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
15.5%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Milton and Starkey 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 | #358 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY | #330 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
11.1 |
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| 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.