Compare towns
Clay vs Java vs Van Buren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Van Buren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Clay | Java | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,995Highest |
2,049Lowest |
14,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.8±1Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
42.1±3.7 6% above NY |
| Java and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Van Buren and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.2% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
39.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.1%±1 NY: 7% |
| Clay and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,707±$6k 6% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$73,779±$8kLowest 14% below NY |
| Java and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,900±$6k 51% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$169,600±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
| Java and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$40 24% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,269±$87Highest 22% below NY |
| Van Buren and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,087Highest 23% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,171 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.8%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Van Buren and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
61.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 34% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.1%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Van Buren and Clay 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 | #249 of 484 in NY | — | #386 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.