Compare towns

Peru vs Cornwall vs Williamson 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.

MeasurePeruCornwallWilliamsonChenango
People
Population
6,710
1,208Lowest
6,823
10,787Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%
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.
40.9±4.2
5% 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%
19.6%±3.3
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%
20.7%±4.5
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%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Peru and Chenango 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.
$90,515±$14k
12% above U.S.
$86,646±$9kLowest
7% above U.S.
Cornwall and Peru 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.
$192,700±$18k
42% below U.S.
$172,000±$9kLowest
48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173
24% below U.S.
$1,125±$206Highest
20% below U.S.
$659±$304Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,038±$97
27% below U.S.
Cornwall and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357
40% above U.S.
$6,726Highest
116% above U.S.
$5,172
66% 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%
25.1%±12.5Lowest
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%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%
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 minLowest
22% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
10.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall and Williamson 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 — #221 of 484 in NY #233 of 484 in NY
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL None in town WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
—
8.3Lowest
11.1
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.