Compare towns
Frankfort vs Java vs Gowanda vs Marathon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Frankfort has the most people working from home (13.7%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Gowanda has the most affordable homes ($96k median).
Marathon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.
| Measure | Frankfort | Java | Gowanda | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,503 |
2,049 |
2,683Highest |
2,042Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.2% NY: +4.2% |
+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 36.7±6 8% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
37.6±6.2 6% below NY |
36.4±5.7Lowest 9% below NY |
| Java and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
26%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Gowanda and Marathon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±5.8 NY: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Frankfort and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
10.8% NY: 40.2% |
10.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Marathon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,909±$4kLowest 41% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,828±$2k 40% below NY |
$64,438±$7k 25% below NY |
| Java and Marathon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $128,200±$18k 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$96,400±$13kLowest 77% below NY |
$136,100±$15k 68% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $874±$58Highest 46% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$753±$51Lowest 54% below NY |
$782±$61 52% below NY |
| Frankfort and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,680 44% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,663Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,373 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.4%±21.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Gowanda and Marathon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.9%Highest NY: 14% |
10.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Frankfort and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.