Compare towns
Harford vs Java vs Mentz vs Catharine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harford has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Mentz has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Catharine has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Harford | Java | Mentz | Catharine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
2,049Highest |
1,753 |
1,370 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±13 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
47.4±6.5Highest 19% above NY |
| Catharine and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
18.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Mentz and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,905±$3k 12% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$58,500±$15k 32% below NY |
| Java and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $109,800±$40kLowest 74% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$115,500±$31k 73% below NY |
$144,900±$11k 66% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$119 37% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$854±$117Lowest 47% below NY |
| Mentz and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,684 44% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,901 56% below NY |
$2,675Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.3%±24.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4 NY: 52.1% |
60.5%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Catharine and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20% NY: 14% |
20.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.2%±8.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Harford and Java 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 | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.