Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Schenectady vs Union
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
68,847Highest |
55,078 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% 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 |
41.4±1.2 4% 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2 NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.3 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%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Union 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
33%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1Highest NY: 7% |
6.1%±0.9 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 |
$61,713±$2k 28% 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 |
$149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
$936±$37 42% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523Lowest 46% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
$4,200 36% 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% |
49.2%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady and Union 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% |
16.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
45.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
58.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
18 min 46% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±1.5Lowest 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 | #199 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.