Compare towns
Central Square vs Java vs Harford vs Arcade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Harford has the most affordable homes ($110k median).
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | Central Square | Java | Harford | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,163Highest |
2,049 |
980Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.6±13Highest 17% above NY |
44.7±4.6 12% above NY |
| Harford and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Arcade and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
19%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,500±$23k 19% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$75,905±$3k 12% below NY |
$58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY |
| Java and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$109,800±$40kLowest 74% below NY |
$172,300±$19k 59% below NY |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$91 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,019±$119Highest 37% below NY |
$805±$176Lowest 50% below NY |
| Harford and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,684Lowest 44% below NY |
$3,938 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
35.3%±24.2 NY: 52.1% |
42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.6% NY: 14% |
17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.6% NY: 54.3% |
50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
28 minHighest 14% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±8.8 NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square and Harford 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 | — | — | — | #260 of 484 in NY |
| 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.