Compare towns
Peru vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Williamson has the most people working from home (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 | Peru | Strafford | Williamson | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,710 |
1,372Lowest |
6,823 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%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. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chenango and Strafford 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$90,515±$14k 12% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% 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±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,172 66% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Strafford 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% |
5.2%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% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
23 min 13% 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% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamson and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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.