Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Mentz vs Avon
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%).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Mentz | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049 |
1,753Lowest |
6,982Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3Lowest 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.1±5.3 8% above NY |
43.7±3.2 10% above NY |
| Java and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Avon 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% NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4 NY: 7% |
3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$76,098±$11k 11% below NY |
| Java and Dickinson 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
$183,900±$17k 57% below NY |
| Java and Avon 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 |
$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$944±$153 42% below NY |
| Mentz and Avon 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,901Lowest 56% below NY |
$4,834Highest 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
49.6%±19.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Mentz and Avon 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% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
6.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.2% NY: 54.3% |
73.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Java 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 | — | — | — | #220 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AVON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | AVON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.