Compare towns
Peru vs Middlesex vs Corning 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 most renters (17.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Corning has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Corning | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,710 |
1,943Lowest |
5,829 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±3.6 7% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Corning and Chenango 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Corning 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% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$88,482±$10k 10% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$167,600±$14kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$172,000±$9k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,289±$219 9% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Corning 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,895 25% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Chenango 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #347 of 484 in NY | — | #393 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 4.0Lowest |
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.