Compare towns
Bainbridge vs Java vs Afton vs Cato
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bainbridge has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Cato has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Bainbridge | Java | Afton | Cato |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,017Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,733 |
2,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.6 21% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
| Cato and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Bainbridge and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
22%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,391±$8k 30% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$79,760±$11k 7% below NY |
| Java and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,500±$32k 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$167,600±$6k 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$237Lowest 53% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$826±$212 49% below NY |
$942±$425Highest 42% below NY |
| Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,712 44% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
$3,005Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±12 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.5%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Cato 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 | #332 of 484 in NY | — | #418 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 6.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.