Compare towns
Champion vs Denmark vs Gaines 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
Champion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Champion | Denmark | Gaines | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,530Highest |
2,630 |
3,216 |
2,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40±3Lowest about the NY average |
48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
| Denmark and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Champion and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% NY: 40.2% |
14.7% NY: 40.2% |
14.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$13k 34% below NY |
$63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
$56,582±$8kLowest 34% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,900±$16k 53% below NY |
$193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
$125,800±$19kLowest 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,054±$255Highest 35% below NY |
$952±$70 41% below NY |
$922±$72 43% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
| Champion and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,247 51% below NY |
$3,310 50% below NY |
$3,157Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Champion and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19%Highest NY: 14% |
16.7% NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.5% NY: 54.3% |
74.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 38% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines and Java 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 | #309 of 484 in NY | #142 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.