Compare towns
Centerville vs Java vs Caroline vs Riverside
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 the youngest population (median age 26.2).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Caroline has the most renters (34.4% rent).
Riverside has the shortest commute (18 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 | Centerville | Java | Caroline | Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 700 |
2,049 |
3,280Highest |
624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.6% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40.5±3.5 about the NY average |
31.8±14.1 20% below NY |
| Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 34.3%±0.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
37.7%±7.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Riverside and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
14.9%±7.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Caroline 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.2%±3.9 NY: 7% |
| Caroline and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$80,855±$21kLowest 6% below NY |
$88,750±$26k 3% above NY |
| Java and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,800±$49k 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$119,500±$16kLowest 72% below NY |
| Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY |
$1,021±$188 37% below NY |
| Caroline and Riverside are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,981 55% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$5,703Highest 13% below NY |
$2,023Lowest 69% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.3%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
50%±15.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Riverside and Caroline 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.6% NY: 14% |
12.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
18 minLowest 46% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
20.8%±18.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline and Riverside 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 | — | — | #345 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER | — |
| 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.