Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Sardinia vs Chenango
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Chenango has the youngest population (median age 41).
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 | Sardinia | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
2,703 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
42.5±7.5 7% above NY |
41±2.8Lowest 3% 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%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Sardinia 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% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango 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% NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Sardinia 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 |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
| Java and Chenango 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 |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia 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±$419 47% below NY |
$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
| Chenango 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 |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango and Dickinson 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% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Chenango 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 | — | — | — | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.