Compare towns

Eagle vs Java vs Caroline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eagle has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Caroline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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.

MeasureEagleJavaCaroline
People
Population
1,231Lowest
2,049
3,280Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.3%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
+1.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
37.8±12.6Lowest
5% below NY
44.2±5.5Highest
11% above NY
40.5±3.5
about the NY average
Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.1%±9.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
17.9%±5.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Eagle and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.7%±1.4Lowest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
NY: 17.9%
Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
11.2%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
59.1%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.4Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
3.8%±2.1Highest
NY: 7%
Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,778±$19kLowest
15% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$80,855±$21k
6% below NY
Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$148,900±$41kLowest
65% below NY
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$234,200±$40kHighest
45% below NY
Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$736±$101Lowest
55% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$1,398±$416Highest
14% below NY
Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,753Lowest
58% below NY
$3,775
43% below NY
$5,703Highest
13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±33Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
43.3%±15.4
NY: 52.1%
Eagle and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
14.6%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
65.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1970
11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
8% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
21 minLowest
35% below NY
Work from home
11.1%±6.5
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
22.1%±9.3Highest
NY: 14.9%
Caroline and Eagle 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 — — #345 of 484 in NY
School district — — NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.