Compare towns
Caroline vs Java vs Pike vs Manlius
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Pike has the most affordable homes ($129k median).
Manlius has the most expensive homes ($263k 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 | Java | Pike | Manlius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,280 |
2,049 |
812Lowest |
4,644Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.5±3.5Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.3±4.4Highest 21% above NY |
42.4±3.8 7% above NY |
| Pike and Java 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Manlius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
24%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Pike and Manlius 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% |
15.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
54.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Manlius 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 |
$71,250±$11k 17% below NY |
$69,942±$14kLowest 19% below NY |
| Java 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 |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$129,100±$18kLowest 70% below NY |
$263,300±$20kHighest 38% below NY |
| Manlius 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 |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$810±$762Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,072±$52 34% below NY |
| Caroline and Manlius 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 |
$2,947Lowest 55% below NY |
$8,035Highest 22% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
58.6%±23.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Pike and Manlius 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% |
9% NY: 14% |
8.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.5% NY: 54.3% |
59.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1968 9 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline and Manlius 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.