Compare towns
Parma vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,111Highest |
10,144Lowest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±3.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Williston 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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$111 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,549 78% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parma and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.