Compare towns
Brutus vs Java vs Mentz vs Arcade
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Mentz | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,269Highest |
2,049 |
1,753Lowest |
4,210 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.6±3.5 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
46±3.7Highest 16% above NY |
| Arcade 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% |
20.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Arcade 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% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4 NY: 7% |
5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Arcade 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 |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$62,011±$8k 28% below NY |
| Java and Brutus 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 |
$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
$163,900±$15k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,114±$122Highest 31% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,045±$130 36% below NY |
$813±$152Lowest 50% 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 |
$2,901Lowest 56% below NY |
$4,172 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±25.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
40.4%±13.5 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% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
11.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.2% NY: 54.3% |
73.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 18% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Brutus 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 | — | — | #260 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.