Compare towns
Geneva vs Java vs Varick vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Geneva has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Varick has the most kids (30.3% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (15.8%).
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 | Geneva | Java | Varick | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,471 |
2,049 |
1,724Lowest |
3,936Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53±3.8Highest 33% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY |
52.2±4.3 31% above NY |
| Geneva and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±6.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.3%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Geneva and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.7% NY: 40.2% |
39.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Geneva and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,589±$19k 4% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$80,250±$8kLowest 7% below NY |
$84,896±$14k about the NY average |
| Java and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,600±$9k 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$267,200±$41k 37% below NY |
$274,700±$31kHighest 35% below NY |
| Athens and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$102 37% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY |
$1,264±$480 22% below NY |
| Varick and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,419Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,604Highest 30% below NY |
$4,345 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.6%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
31%±12.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Geneva and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
6.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83% NY: 54.3% |
84.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 3%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±7.6 NY: 14.9% |
15.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Athens and Varick 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 | — | — | — | #261 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | COXSACKIE-ATHENS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| 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.