Compare towns
Cato vs Chenango vs Java vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cato has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($159k 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 | Cato | Chenango | Java | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,542 |
10,787Highest |
2,049 |
2,019Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
41±2.8Lowest 3% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
42.8±3.1 8% above NY |
| Cato and Java 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% |
20.2%±3.2 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%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Cato 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% |
19%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% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,760±$11kLowest 7% below NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
| Ira and Java 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 |
$158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$425 42% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% 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 |
$3,594 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango and Ira 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% |
4.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 30% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 7% 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% |
8.9%±5Lowest 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 | — | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | 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.