Compare towns
Peru vs Williston vs Chenango vs Colonie
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Colonie has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Williston | Chenango | Colonie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,710Lowest |
10,144 |
10,787Highest |
7,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41±2.8 5% above U.S. |
43.4±1.8 12% above U.S. |
| Williston and Colonie 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.5 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+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.3Highest 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$103,983±$6k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$285,400±$10k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,570±$157 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Colonie 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$3,712 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2% 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. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #233 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.