Compare towns
Arcade vs Java vs Central Square
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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Central Square |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,210Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,163 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46±3.7Highest 16% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
| Arcade and Java 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% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Arcade and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Central Square 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$69,500±$23k 19% below NY |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $813±$152Lowest 50% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$908±$91Highest 44% below NY |
| Central Square and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,172 37% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$5,756Highest 13% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
54.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square 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 | — | — |
| School district | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.