Compare towns
Ira vs Murray vs Cato
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 highest household income ($97k).
Murray has the most affordable homes ($124k median).
Cato has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Murray | Cato |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,019Lowest |
4,754Highest |
2,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 8% above NY |
40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
| Cato and Ira 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% |
20.5%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Murray 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% |
17.9%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
22%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Cato and Murray 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% |
16.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6 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 |
$65,077±$5kLowest 24% below NY |
$79,760±$11k 7% below NY |
| Ira and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,800±$16k 63% below NY |
$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY |
$167,600±$6kHighest 60% below NY |
| Cato and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $826±$63Lowest 49% below NY |
$942±$425Highest 42% below NY |
| Cato and Murray 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 |
$3,907Highest 41% below NY |
$3,005Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Murray and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Murray 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 | — | #430 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.