Compare towns
Caroline vs Centerville vs Java vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Caroline has the most renters (34.4% rent).
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Danby has the most expensive homes ($292k 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 | Caroline | Centerville | Java | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,280 |
700Lowest |
2,049 |
3,359Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NY: +4.2% |
+13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.5±3.5 about the NY average |
26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
42.7±2.4 7% above NY |
| Java and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±5.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.1%±5.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% NY: 40.2% |
16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
62.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6%±4.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Danby and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,855±$21kLowest 6% below NY |
$83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$99,886±$44kHighest 16% above NY |
| Danby and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$40k 45% below NY |
$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$291,800±$29kHighest 31% below NY |
| Danby and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY |
$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,200±$333 26% below NY |
| Caroline and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 13% below NY |
$2,981Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$5,583 15% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±15.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.8%±25.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Caroline and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% NY: 14% |
23.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1984 25 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.4%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
19.1%±6.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline and Danby 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 | #345 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER | — | — | — |
| 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.