Compare towns
Parma vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,111Highest |
1,148Lowest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±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±$8kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Wells and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111 14% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,700 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%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 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chenango and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.