Compare towns

Cato vs Java vs Bainbridge vs Lysander

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).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Bainbridge has the most affordable homes ($151k median).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

MeasureCatoJavaBainbridgeLysander
People
Population
2,542
2,049Lowest
3,017
23,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-7.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.7±4Highest
22% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
48.2±7.6
21% above NY
43.6±1.9Lowest
10% above NY
Cato and Bainbridge 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%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
20.8%±3.7
NY: 20.5%
24.4%±2.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
Lysander and Bainbridge 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%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
21.2%±4.9
NY: 17.9%
17.6%±1.9Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Cato and Bainbridge 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%
NY: 40.2%
24.4%
NY: 40.2%
47.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.6Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
2.2%±1Lowest
NY: 7%
3.6%±0.9
NY: 7%
Cato and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,760±$11k
7% below NY
$95,129±$24k
11% above NY
$60,391±$8kLowest
30% below NY
$107,984±$5kHighest
26% above NY
Lysander 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
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$150,500±$32kLowest
64% below NY
$288,400±$18kHighest
32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$425
42% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$767±$237Lowest
53% below NY
$1,130±$100Highest
30% below NY
Lysander 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
$3,775
43% below NY
$3,712
44% below NY
$6,748Highest
about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±23.7
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
41.1%±12
NY: 52.1%
54.5%±10.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
Lysander and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.4%Highest
NY: 14%
5.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.1%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
86.2%
NY: 54.3%
81.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
15 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1985Highest
26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
30% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
22 minLowest
32% below NY
24 min
26% below NY
Work from home
11.2%±3.6
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
8.5%±4.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
16.6%±3.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
Lysander 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 — — #332 of 484 in NY #158 of 484 in NY
School district — — BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.9Lowest
15.4Highest
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.