Compare towns
Centerville vs Groton vs Java
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Groton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Centerville | Groton | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 700Lowest |
5,612Highest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
43±7.9 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
| Java and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
23.2%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.2% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Java and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$163,900±$9k 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Groton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,981Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,955Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Groton and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% NY: 54.3% |
75%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Groton and Centerville 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 | — | #322 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.