Compare towns
Caroline vs Java vs Liverpool vs Berkshire
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 people working from home (22.1%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Liverpool has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Caroline | Java | Liverpool | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,280Highest |
2,049 |
2,695 |
1,263Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.5±3.5 about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
42.7±6 7% above NY |
39±3.2Lowest about the NY average |
| Java and Liverpool are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Berkshire and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Liverpool and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
57.9% NY: 40.2% |
12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
7.5%±3.6Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Liverpool 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,932±$12k about the NY average |
$74,881±$18kLowest 13% below NY |
| Java and Liverpool are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$189,600±$22k 55% below NY |
$141,900±$20kLowest 67% below NY |
| Caroline and Java 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 |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,219±$341 25% below NY |
$1,368±$126 16% below NY |
| Caroline and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$6,516Highest about the NY average |
$3,573Lowest 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±15.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
36.3%±16 NY: 52.1% |
24.2%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Caroline and Liverpool are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.3% NY: 14% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
62.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
16 minLowest 51% below NY |
35 minHighest 6% above NY |
| Work from home | 22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.5%±6.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline and Liverpool 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.