Compare towns
Hastings vs Java vs West Monroe vs Lenox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hastings has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.1%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
West Monroe has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Hastings | Java | West Monroe | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,345Highest |
2,049Lowest |
4,060 |
8,658 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.1±3.7Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.3±4.6Highest 16% above NY |
45.1±2 13% above NY |
| West Monroe and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
16%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1 NY: 7% |
| Hastings and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,027±$8k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,558±$11k 5% above NY |
$75,900±$8kLowest 12% below NY |
| Java and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,700±$17k 56% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$185,100±$19k 56% below NY |
$161,600±$9kLowest 62% below NY |
| Java and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $917±$129 43% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY |
$935±$83 42% below NY |
| West Monroe and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,565Highest 31% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,333 34% below NY |
$4,184 36% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±11.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.1%±13.1 NY: 52.1% |
38.5%±9.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Hastings and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
10.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 22% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±3.1 NY: 14.9% |
8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Hastings 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 | #328 of 484 in NY | — | — | #412 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CENTRAL SQUARE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PAUL V MOORE HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| 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.