Compare towns

Binghamton vs Java vs Troy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Binghamton has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

MeasureBinghamtonJavaTroy
People
Population
47,151
2,049Lowest
51,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+2.5%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
35.9±1.6
10% below NY
44.2±5.5Highest
11% above NY
32.3±1.1Lowest
19% below NY
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
17.2%±1.3
NY: 20.5%
Java and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18%±1.3
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
13.3%±1.2Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Java and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.7%
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
37.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±2
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
16.6%±1Highest
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,578±$3kLowest
47% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$58,477±$5k
32% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$124,800±$7kLowest
71% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$206,500±$10k
51% below NY
Java and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$870±$38
46% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$1,175±$29Highest
28% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,622Lowest
45% below NY
$3,775
43% below NY
$4,749Highest
28% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.4%±3.9
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
52.7%±5.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
Troy and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
32.6%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
23.4%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
44%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
37.4%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
14 yrs older than NY
1956Highest
3 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
42% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
21 min
35% below NY
Work from home
9.3%±2
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
14.5%±2Highest
NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #426 of 484 in NY — #284 of 484 in NY
School district BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — LANSINGBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · TROY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL — TROY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
11.8Highest
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.