Compare towns
Brutus vs Java vs Cato vs Mentz
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Cato has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
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 | Java | Cato | Mentz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,269Highest |
2,049 |
2,542 |
1,753Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.6±3.5 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
| Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Cato 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4 NY: 7% |
| Cato and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$10k 10% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$79,760±$11k 7% below NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
| Java and Cato 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 |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$167,600±$6k 60% below NY |
$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,114±$122Highest 31% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$425 42% below NY |
$1,045±$130 36% below NY |
| Brutus and Mentz 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,005 54% below NY |
$2,901Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±25.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Mentz 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Cato 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 | #313 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.