Compare towns

Dickinson vs Java vs Union vs Binghamton

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).
Binghamton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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.

MeasureDickinsonJavaUnionBinghamton
People
Population
5,001
2,049Lowest
55,078Highest
47,151
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%
NY: +4.2%
+1.3%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
42.7±3.3
7% above NY
44.2±5.5Highest
11% above NY
41.4±1.2
4% above NY
35.9±1.6Lowest
10% below 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%±3.9
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
19%±1.3
NY: 20.5%
16.9%±1.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Java and Union 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%
21.4%±1.3Highest
NY: 17.9%
18%±1.3Lowest
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%
33%Highest
NY: 40.2%
30.7%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
6.1%±0.9
NY: 7%
13.3%±2Highest
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,864±$14k
9% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$61,713±$2k
28% below NY
$45,578±$3kLowest
47% 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
$149,900±$5k
65% below NY
$124,800±$7kLowest
71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$941±$68Highest
42% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$936±$37
42% below NY
$870±$38
46% below NY
Dickinson and Union 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
$4,200Highest
36% below NY
$3,622
45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.8%±13.8
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
49.2%±5.6
NY: 52.1%
51.4%±3.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
Binghamton 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%
16.2%
NY: 14%
32.6%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.6%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
58.9%
NY: 54.3%
44%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
7 yrs older than NY
1956Highest
3 yrs older than NY
1955
4 yrs older than NY
1945Lowest
14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
48% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
18 min
46% below NY
19 min
42% below NY
Work from home
14.4%±5.9Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±1.5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9.3%±2
NY: 14.9%
Dickinson and Binghamton 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 — — #199 of 484 in NY #426 of 484 in NY
School district CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town — UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4Highest
10.3Lowest
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.