Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Cato
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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Cato has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Cato |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,001Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3Lowest 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
| Cato and Java 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Dickinson 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%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Cato 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14kLowest 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$79,760±$11k 7% below NY |
| Java and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$167,600±$6k 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$425Highest 42% below NY |
| Cato 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 |
$3,005Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Dickinson and Cato 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% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.