Compare towns
Arcade vs Java vs Pike vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Pike has the most affordable homes ($129k median).
Waterville has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Arcade | Java | Pike | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,915 |
2,049Highest |
812Lowest |
1,731 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.7±4.6 12% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.3±4.4Highest 21% above NY |
44.9±4.5 13% above NY |
| Pike and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Pike and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
15.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,250±$11k 17% below NY |
$82,273±$13k 4% below NY |
| Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,300±$19k 59% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$129,100±$18kLowest 70% below NY |
$170,100±$12k 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $805±$176Lowest 50% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$810±$762 50% below NY |
$820±$132 49% below NY |
| Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,947Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,425 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
24%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.5% NY: 54.3% |
54.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.3%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Java 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 | #260 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| 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.