Compare towns
Binghamton vs Java vs Watertown
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Watertown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,151Highest |
2,049Lowest |
24,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-8.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.9±1.6 10% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
35.7±1.8Lowest 10% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.5%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Watertown and Java 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% |
16%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
6.6%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,753±$5k 40% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$158,600±$11k 63% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$38 46% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$967±$57Highest 40% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,622 45% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,710Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.8%±7.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Binghamton and Watertown 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% |
20.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
40.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 42% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
16 minLowest 50% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Binghamton 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 | #426 of 484 in NY | — | #279 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL | — | WATERTOWN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.