Compare towns
Plattsburgh vs Parma vs Tonawanda
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plattsburgh has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Tonawanda has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Plattsburgh | Parma | Tonawanda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,830Lowest |
16,111Highest |
15,030 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
0%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.2±1.9Highest 14% above NY |
40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
43.5±2.8 9% above NY |
| Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±2.5 NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.6%±3 NY: 17.9% |
| Plattsburgh and Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
5.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Tonawanda and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,546±$5k 17% below NY |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
$58,326±$8kLowest 32% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,900±$11k 58% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
$173,600±$7kLowest 59% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,053±$86 35% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
$835±$176Lowest 48% below NY |
| Parma and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573Lowest 46% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$4,089 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
53.9%±9.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Tonawanda and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% NY: 14% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% NY: 54.3% |
82.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
23 minHighest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
16.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Tonawanda and Parma 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 | #153 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY | #432 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | TONAWANDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | TONAWANDA MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.