Compare towns
Gainesville vs Java vs Catharine vs Ellenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gainesville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Catharine has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Gainesville | Java | Catharine | Ellenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,839 |
2,049Highest |
1,370Lowest |
1,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.3% NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.7±2.7Highest 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
47.4±6.5 19% above NY |
46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
| Gainesville and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ellenburg and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Ellenburg and Gainesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.9% NY: 40.2% |
16.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.6 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Catharine and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,250±$12kLowest 35% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$58,500±$15k 32% below NY |
$73,125±$10k 15% below NY |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,500±$15kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$144,900±$11k 66% below NY |
$123,000±$16k 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $738±$435Lowest 54% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$854±$117 47% below NY |
$801±$192 51% below NY |
| Java and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,256 51% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,675 59% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±18.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.5%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Catharine and Gainesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
| Work from home | 4.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | LETCHWORTH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LETCHWORTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
— | 9.0 |
8.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 2 photos → | 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.