Compare towns
Clayton vs Dickinson vs Java vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clayton has the most renters (28.3% rent).
Dickinson has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Clayton | Dickinson | Java | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,693 |
5,001Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
0%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±10.1 7% above NY |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40.2±5.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Java and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
27.4%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Orleans and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,357±$12k 5% above NY |
$77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$77,500±$11kLowest 10% below NY |
| Java and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,800±$20kHighest 46% below NY |
$147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$190,300±$45k 55% below NY |
| Clayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$320Highest 31% below NY |
$941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,061±$289 35% below NY |
| Clayton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,048 54% below NY |
$3,523 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,380Lowest 64% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±19.3 NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.6%±5.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Orleans and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
78.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 min 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Orleans and Dickinson 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 | #259 of 484 in NY | — | — | #212 of 484 in NY |
| School district | THOUSAND ISLANDS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.