Compare towns
Champion vs Java vs Solvay vs Sidney
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%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Solvay has the most renters (48.7% rent).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($122k 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 | Champion | Java | Solvay | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,530 |
2,049Lowest |
6,544Highest |
5,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40±3 about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average |
41±6.1 3% above NY |
| Java and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Solvay and Sidney 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% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
24% NY: 40.2% |
25.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Solvay and Java 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$61,166±$7k 29% below NY |
$52,347±$9kLowest 39% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,900±$16k 53% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$150,000±$13k 65% below NY |
$122,100±$14kLowest 71% 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 |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$946±$77 42% below NY |
$898±$169 45% below NY |
| Champion and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,247Lowest 51% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,459Highest 32% below NY |
$3,329 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
32.1%±9.2 NY: 52.1% |
39.5%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Champion and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.9% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 38% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 41% below NY |
24 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #309 of 484 in NY | — | — | #228 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.8Highest |
| 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.