Compare towns
Brutus vs Centerville vs Java vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brutus has the most renters (25.8% rent).
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Groton has the shortest commute (21 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 | Brutus | Centerville | Java | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,269 |
700Lowest |
2,049 |
5,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
+13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.6±3.5 10% above NY |
26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43±7.9 8% above NY |
| Java and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
23.2%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$10k 10% below NY |
$83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY |
| Java and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$14k 63% below NY |
$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$163,900±$9k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,114±$122Highest 31% below NY |
$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,018±$239 37% below NY |
| Brutus and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,294Highest 35% below NY |
$2,981Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,955 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±25.8 NY: 52.1% |
23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Groton and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.2% NY: 14% |
23.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.4%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Groton and Centerville 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 | #313 of 484 in NY | — | — | #322 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | — | 11.0Highest |
| 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.

