Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Binghamton vs Clayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dickinson has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Binghamton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Clayton has the most expensive homes ($227k 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 | Dickinson | Java | Binghamton | Clayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
47,151Highest |
4,693 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
42.7±10.1 7% above NY |
| Java and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Clayton and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
30.7% NY: 40.2% |
35.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
$90,357±$12k 5% above 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 | $147,400±$17k 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY |
$226,800±$20kHighest 46% 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 | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$870±$38 46% below NY |
$1,125±$320Highest 31% below NY |
| Clayton and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,622 45% below NY |
$3,048Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51.4%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
47.7%±19.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Binghamton and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
32.6%Highest NY: 14% |
12.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
44%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
71.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±2 NY: 14.9% |
5.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Binghamton 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 | — | — | #426 of 484 in NY | #259 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | THOUSAND ISLANDS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.