Compare towns
Cato vs Ira 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
Cato has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Ira has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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.
| Measure | Cato | Ira | Java | Aurelius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,542 |
2,019Lowest |
2,049 |
2,593Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.7±4 22% above NY |
42.8±3.1Lowest 8% 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% |
20.2%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±4 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Ira 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% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Aurelius 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% |
19%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$94,079±$16k 9% 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 |
$158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$167,000±$14k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$425Highest 42% below NY |
— | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$813±$200Lowest 50% below NY |
| Cato and Java 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 |
$3,594 45% 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% |
14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44%±17.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Aurelius 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% |
4.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 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 |
30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR 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.