Compare towns
Williamson vs Jay vs Peru vs Chenango
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamson has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Williamson | Jay | Peru | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823 |
2,354Lowest |
6,710 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Jay and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,515±$14k 5% above NY |
$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
| Peru and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,700±$18k 55% below NY |
$196,900±$22k 54% below NY |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
$172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,172Highest 21% below NY |
$3,741 43% below NY |
$4,357 34% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Williamson 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 | #221 of 484 in NY | — | #347 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.3Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.