Compare towns
Williamson vs Pendleton vs Strafford vs Ontario
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ontario has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Pendleton | Strafford | Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823 |
7,034 |
1,372Lowest |
10,491Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.7±4.1 20% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.2±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pendleton and Ontario are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Williamson 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 12% above U.S. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$82,608±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Pendleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,700±$18kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$294,300±$39k 12% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$233,900±$15k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$994±$119 30% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$882±$172 38% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,172Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,623 112% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,251 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±18.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ontario and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pendleton and Williamson 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 | #67 of 484 in NY | — | #48 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | WAYNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.3Lowest |
14.5Highest |
— | 10.4 |
| 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.