Compare towns

Cato vs Chenango vs Java vs Aurelius

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Aurelius has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureCatoChenangoJavaAurelius
People
Population
2,542
10,787Highest
2,049Lowest
2,593
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-2.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-6.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.7±4
22% above NY
41±2.8Lowest
3% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
49.1±4Highest
23% above NY
Aurelius and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.1%±3.4Lowest
NY: 20.5%
22.7%±3Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
20.1%±4
NY: 20.5%
Chenango and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.1
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±2.6
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
25.7%±4.4Highest
NY: 17.9%
Aurelius and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
NY: 40.2%
35.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
21.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.6
NY: 7%
4.8%±2Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
3.2%±1.8
NY: 7%
Chenango and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,760±$11kLowest
7% below NY
$86,646±$9k
about the NY average
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$94,079±$16k
9% above NY
Java and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$167,600±$6k
60% below NY
$172,000±$9k
59% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$167,000±$14kLowest
61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$425
42% below NY
$1,038±$97Highest
36% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$813±$200Lowest
50% below NY
Chenango and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,005Lowest
54% below NY
$3,700
44% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$3,516
47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±23.7
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±8.7
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
44%±17.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
Aurelius and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%Highest
NY: 14%
9.1%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
9.7%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.1%
NY: 54.3%
85.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
92.3%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
15 yrs newer than NY
1964
5 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
30% below NY
24 min
27% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
19 minLowest
43% below NY
Work from home
11.2%±3.6
NY: 14.9%
13.8%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
4.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Chenango and Cato 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 — #233 of 484 in NY — —
School district — CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — —
High school in town — CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL — —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
— —
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.