Compare towns
Williamson vs Peru vs Chenango vs Marion
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Marion has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Peru | Chenango | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823 |
6,710 |
10,787Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
47.9±4.2Highest 20% above NY |
| Marion and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Williamson 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% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$80,469±$12kLowest 6% below NY |
| 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 |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
$172,000±$9kLowest 59% below NY |
$180,300±$27k 57% below NY |
| Peru and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $659±$304 59% below NY |
$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$639±$394Lowest 61% below NY |
| Peru and Chenango 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 |
$4,357 34% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$4,580 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
44%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
5.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 25% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #194 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | MARION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | MARION JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.1 |
9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 3 photos → |
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.