Compare towns
Catharine vs Hector vs Java vs Cayuta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Catharine has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Cayuta has the youngest population (median age 34.9).
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 | Catharine | Hector | Java | Cayuta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,370 |
4,850Highest |
2,049 |
528Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-8.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.4±6.5 19% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
34.9±6.1Lowest 12% below NY |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
25%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Cayuta and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
25%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9% NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
14.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Catharine and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,500±$15kLowest 32% below NY |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$85,714±$18k about the NY average |
| Java and Cayuta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,900±$11k 66% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$138,600±$33kLowest 67% below NY |
| Java and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $854±$117Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,386±$70Highest 14% below NY |
| Cayuta and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,675Lowest 59% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,190 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40%±49.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
72.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 23% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.2%±4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.