Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Schenectady vs Brutus
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).
Schenectady has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Schenectady | Brutus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
68,847Highest |
4,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
36.1±1Lowest 9% below NY |
43.6±3.5 10% above NY |
| Java and Brutus 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% |
19.9%±1.2 NY: 20.5% |
17.7%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Schenectady are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Dickinson and Java 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
26.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
9.8%±1Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$58,399±$3kLowest 32% below NY |
$77,031±$10k 10% 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±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$168,800±$5k 60% below NY |
$154,900±$14k 63% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
$1,114±$122 31% below NY |
| Schenectady and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523Lowest 46% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
$4,294 35% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±25.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady and Brutus 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% |
23.8%Highest NY: 14% |
15.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
45.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 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 |
22 min 33% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Schenectady 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 | — | — | #400 of 484 in NY | #313 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.