Compare towns
Ira vs Java vs Cato vs Lysander
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 the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Cato has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Lysander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,019Lowest |
2,049 |
2,542 |
23,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest 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 |
43.6±1.9 10% 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Java 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% |
17.6%±1.9 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest 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% |
3.6%±0.9 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±$11k 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$79,760±$11kLowest 7% below NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
| Lysander and Ira 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$167,600±$6k 60% below NY |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$425 42% below NY |
$1,130±$100Highest 30% below NY |
| Lysander and Cato 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,005Lowest 54% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Lysander 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% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest 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 |
1985Highest 26 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 |
24 min 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander and Cato 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 | — | — | — | #158 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 15.4Highest |
| 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.