Compare towns
Freedom vs Java vs Waterville vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Waterville has the most people working from home (14.8%).
Ira has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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 | Freedom | Java | Waterville | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,483Highest |
2,049 |
1,731Lowest |
2,019 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.2±7 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY |
42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY |
| Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Ira and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,646±$24kLowest 14% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$82,273±$13k 4% below NY |
$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
| Ira and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$170,100±$12k 60% below NY |
$158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY |
| Java and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$820±$132 49% below NY |
— |
| Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,443 48% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,425Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,594 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
24%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Waterville and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.1%Highest NY: 14% |
4.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
30 minHighest 7% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±5 NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.