Compare towns
Peru vs Cornwall vs Colonie 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
Peru has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Colonie has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Peru | Cornwall | Colonie | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,710 |
1,208Lowest |
7,702 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.4±1.8 12% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colonie and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$103,983±$6k 29% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$285,400±$10k 14% below U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,570±$157Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357 40% above U.S. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$3,712 19% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Colonie 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 | #347 of 484 in NY | — | — | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.