Compare towns
Ira vs Java vs Cato vs Freedom
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).
Cato has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Cato | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,019Lowest |
2,049 |
2,542Highest |
2,483 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
43.2±7 9% above NY |
| Cato 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.3 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% |
22%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Cato 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% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
15.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Ira and Cato 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 |
$79,760±$11k 7% below NY |
$73,646±$24kLowest 14% below 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 |
$167,600±$6k 60% below NY |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
| Java and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$942±$425Highest 42% below NY |
$519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
| Cato and Java 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 |
$3,005Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,443 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Ira and Freedom 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% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
28 min 15% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Cato and Java 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 | 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.