What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cato has the most affordable homes ($168k median).

Java has the most expensive homes ($224k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cato	Java
People
Population	2,542Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.7±4Highest 22% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% 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%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Cato and Java 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	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,600±$6kLowest 60% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$425Highest 42% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% 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	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±23.7Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Cato and Java 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%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.