Compare towns
Arcade vs Gorham vs Java vs Sandy Creek
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sandy Creek has the most people working from home (15.5%).
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 | Gorham | Java | Sandy Creek |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,210Highest |
4,093 |
2,049Lowest |
3,806 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46±3.7 16% above NY |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44±5.7Lowest 11% above NY |
| Gorham and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Sandy Creek and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Sandy Creek are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,011±$8kLowest 28% below NY |
$64,874±$8k 25% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$66,583±$12k 23% below NY |
| Java and Sandy Creek are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$15k 61% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$161,800±$26kLowest 62% below NY |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $813±$152 50% below NY |
$1,165±$208Highest 28% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$794±$94Lowest 51% below NY |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,172Highest 37% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,179Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
64.2%±16.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Sandy Creek are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
22%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% NY: 54.3% |
79.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
15.5%±7.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Sandy Creek and Gorham 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 | #246 of 484 in NY | — | #183 of 484 in NY |
| School district | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | SANDY CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | SANDY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.