Compare towns
Parma vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,111Highest |
1,372Lowest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Parma and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chenango 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Parma and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,549 78% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parma and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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.