Compare towns
Binghamton vs Java vs Union vs Schenectady
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%).
Union has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Schenectady has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Binghamton | Java | Union | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,151 |
2,049Lowest |
55,078 |
68,847Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
41.4±1.2 4% above NY |
36.1±1 9% below NY |
| Java and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Schenectady 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Union and Java 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% |
33%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
6.1%±0.9 NY: 7% |
9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$61,713±$2k 28% below NY |
$58,399±$3k 32% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
$168,800±$5k 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$38 46% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$936±$37 42% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,622Lowest 45% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,200 36% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49.2%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady 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% |
16.2% NY: 14% |
23.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
58.9% NY: 54.3% |
45.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 42% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
18 minLowest 46% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schenectady and Binghamton 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 | #426 of 484 in NY | — | #199 of 484 in NY | #400 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL | — | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
13.3Highest |
| 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.