Compare towns
Berkshire vs Caroline vs Java vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Caroline has the most renters (34.4% rent).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Richford has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
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 | Berkshire | Caroline | Java | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,263 |
3,280Highest |
2,049 |
795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±3.2Lowest about the NY average |
40.5±3.5 about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
55.7±3.6Highest 40% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Berkshire and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Richford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
15.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,881±$18k 13% below NY |
$80,855±$21k 6% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$65,833±$11kLowest 23% below NY |
| Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,900±$20k 67% below NY |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$110,500±$9kLowest 74% below NY |
| Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,368±$126 16% below NY |
$1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$604±$285Lowest 63% below NY |
| Caroline and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573 46% below NY |
$5,703Highest 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,898Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.2%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
43.3%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
47.8%±95.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Richford and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% NY: 14% |
14.6%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
93.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 min 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
21.9%±13.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline and Richford 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 | — | #345 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER | — | — |
| 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.