Compare towns
Ira vs Java vs Aurelius
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Aurelius has the shortest commute (19 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 | Ira | Java | Aurelius |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,019Lowest |
2,049 |
2,593Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
49.1±4Highest 23% above NY |
| Aurelius and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±4Lowest 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+ | 14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Aurelius 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Ira and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$94,079±$16kLowest 9% 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 | $158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$167,000±$14k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$813±$200Lowest 50% below NY |
| Java and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,594 45% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,516Lowest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44%±17.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Aurelius and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ira 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 |
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.