Compare towns
Peru vs Williston vs Chenango vs Plattsburgh
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).
Plattsburgh has the shortest commute (19 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 | Plattsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,710Lowest |
10,144 |
10,787 |
11,830Highest |
| 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% |
+0.1% 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. |
45.2±1.9 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plattsburgh 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% |
19.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plattsburgh 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Williston 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±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$71,546±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$179,900±$11k 46% 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. |
$1,053±$86 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357 40% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,700 19% above U.S. |
$3,573Lowest 15% 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% |
38.9%±12.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest 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% |
76.1% 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. |
1980 same as 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. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Chenango 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 | #153 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 | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.