Compare towns

Caroline vs Eagle 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).
Eagle has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Danby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureCarolineEagleDanby
People
Population
3,280
1,231Lowest
3,359Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
NY: +4.2%
-7.3%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+2.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.5±3.5
about the NY average
37.8±12.6Lowest
5% below NY
42.7±2.4Highest
7% above NY
Danby and Caroline 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%
26.1%±9.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.9%±5.8
NY: 20.5%
Eagle and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±4.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
16.7%±1.4Lowest
NY: 17.9%
18.1%±5.2
NY: 17.9%
Caroline and Danby 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%
11.2%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
62.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
NY: 7%
2.8%±1.4Lowest
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±$21k
6% below NY
$72,778±$19kLowest
15% below NY
$99,886±$44kHighest
16% above NY
Danby and Caroline 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
$148,900±$41kLowest
65% 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
$736±$101Lowest
55% 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
$2,753Lowest
58% below NY
$5,583
15% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±15.4
NY: 52.1%
54.7%±33Highest
NY: 52.1%
27.8%±25.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Eagle and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.6%
NY: 14%
14.8%Highest
NY: 14%
6.8%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
80.6%
NY: 54.3%
87.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
11 yrs newer than NY
1978
19 yrs newer than NY
1984Highest
25 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
35% below NY
30 minHighest
8% below NY
22 min
33% below NY
Work from home
22.1%±9.3Highest
NY: 14.9%
11.1%±6.5Lowest
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

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.