Compare towns
Java vs Leyden vs Mentz
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Leyden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
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 | Leyden | Mentz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Highest |
1,661Lowest |
1,753 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-11.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.6±3.8 10% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
| Java and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Leyden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
14% NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.1%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Mentz and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$59,474±$21k 31% below NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
| Java and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$173,100±$23k 59% below NY |
$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
| Java and Leyden 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 |
$721±$37Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
| Mentz and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$2,901 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.4%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Mentz and Leyden 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% |
13.9% NY: 14% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Leyden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.

