Compare towns
Parma vs Wallkill vs Hamlin 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 most kids (25.6% under 18).
Wallkill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Wallkill | Hamlin | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,111 |
31,023Highest |
8,652Lowest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+11.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
41.2±2.2 4% above NY |
41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
| Hamlin and Wallkill 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% |
20.7%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.9%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Hamlin 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% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
7.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Wallkill 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 9% above NY |
$96,076±$4kHighest 12% above NY |
$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
| Wallkill 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 |
$353,200±$13kHighest 17% below NY |
$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111 25% below NY |
$1,790±$80Highest 10% above NY |
$1,062±$137 34% below NY |
$1,038±$97Lowest 36% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,549 16% below NY |
$6,623Highest about the NY average |
$4,343 34% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
52.8%±8.1 NY: 52.1% |
59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hamlin and Wallkill 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% |
11% NY: 14% |
11.5%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% NY: 54.3% |
64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
28 min 15% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Hamlin 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 | #476 of 484 in NY | — | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · PINE BUSH CENTRAL 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 | 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.