Compare towns
Falconer vs Java vs Mentz vs Little Valley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Falconer has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Mentz has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Little Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
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 | Falconer | Java | Mentz | Little Valley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,149Highest |
2,049 |
1,753 |
1,700Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.5 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±6.6Highest 11% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
18.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Falconer and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Little Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
16.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Mentz and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,056±$6k 30% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$56,184±$9k 35% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $98,400±$15kLowest 77% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$115,500±$31k 73% below NY |
$118,000±$18k 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$192 54% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$742±$48Lowest 54% below NY |
| Mentz and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,369Lowest 64% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,901 56% below NY |
$2,979 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±13.1 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
47.4%±12.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Mentz and Falconer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20% NY: 14% |
21.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.2% NY: 54.3% |
67.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1951 8 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 33% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.3%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Falconer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CATTARAUGUS-LITTLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.