Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Mentz vs Johnson City
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).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049 |
1,753Lowest |
14,940Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.1±5.3 8% above NY |
40.7±3.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Java and Mentz 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% |
18.1%±2.6 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% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Johnson City 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% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4 NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Johnson City and Dickinson 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 |
$56,283±$4k 35% 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 |
$117,100±$4k 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$1,031±$66 36% below NY |
| Mentz and Johnson City 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 |
$3,982Highest 40% 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%±24.4 NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Johnson City and Mentz 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% |
19.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.2% NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 48% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
17 minLowest 49% 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% |
9.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Johnson City 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 | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.