Compare towns
Centerville vs Java vs Caroline vs Rushford
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%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Caroline has the most people working from home (22.1%).
Rushford has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
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 | Rushford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 700Lowest |
2,049 |
3,280Highest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+1.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.5±3.5 about the NY average |
55.9±7.6Highest 40% above NY |
| Rushford and Java 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
17%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
32.7%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.5% 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% |
2.1%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Caroline and Java 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±$21k 6% below NY |
$58,977±$16kLowest 31% below 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±$49k 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$113,700±$13kLowest 73% 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 |
$875±$279 46% below NY |
| Caroline and Rushford 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 |
$1,952Lowest 70% 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% |
76.1%±52.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Rushford 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% |
16.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
23 min 30% 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% |
17.2%±9.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline and Rushford 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.