Compare towns
Java vs Jerusalem vs Milo vs North Syracuse
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Jerusalem has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Milo has the shortest commute (16 min average).
North Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Java | Jerusalem | Milo | North Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
4,278 |
6,823Highest |
6,693 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.4% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY |
42.7±5.2 7% above NY |
39.6±2.7 about the NY average |
| Java and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.5%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Milo and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
27.8%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Milo and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
45.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
6.8%±3 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,780±$11k about the NY average |
$62,500±$9kLowest 27% below NY |
$71,026±$7k 17% below NY |
| Java and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$320,900±$59kHighest 24% below NY |
$165,200±$16k 61% below NY |
$163,000±$8kLowest 62% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$870±$116 46% below NY |
$733±$137Lowest 55% below NY |
$995±$72Highest 39% below NY |
| North Syracuse and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$4,523 31% below NY |
$3,425Lowest 48% below NY |
$4,764Highest 28% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.3%±43.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
34.6%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
46.2%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Jerusalem and North Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
65.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
67.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
24 min 25% below NY |
16 minLowest 51% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Jerusalem and Milo 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 | — | — | #84 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | PENN YAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | PENN YAN ACADEMY | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.