Compare towns
Catharine vs Java vs Montour vs Gainesville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Montour has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Gainesville has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Catharine | Java | Montour | Gainesville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,370Lowest |
2,049 |
2,566Highest |
1,839 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.4±6.5 19% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
41.7±2.4Lowest 5% above NY |
47.7±2.7Highest 20% above NY |
| Gainesville 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Montour 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% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gainesville 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
26.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Montour and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,500±$15k 32% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$64,417±$19k 25% below NY |
$56,250±$12kLowest 35% below NY |
| Java and Montour 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 |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$158,500±$24k 63% below NY |
$117,500±$15kLowest 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $854±$117 47% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$777±$150 52% below NY |
$738±$435Lowest 54% below NY |
| Java and Catharine 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,578 46% below NY |
$3,256 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±16.9 NY: 52.1% |
38.5%±18.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Catharine and Montour 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.6% NY: 14% |
11.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 23% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
18 minLowest 44% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
4.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Catharine 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 | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LETCHWORTH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | LETCHWORTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 9.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 2 photos → | 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.