Compare towns

Java vs Solvay vs Sidney

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 most homeowners (95.2%).
Solvay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($122k 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.

MeasureJavaSolvaySidney
People
Population
2,049Lowest
6,544Highest
5,492
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+0.9%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5Highest
11% above NY
38.9±2.3Lowest
about the NY average
41±6.1
3% above NY
Java and Sidney 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%
22.4%±3.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
21.4%±3.9
NY: 20.5%
Solvay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±3.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.1%±3.5
NY: 17.9%
18.7%±3.8Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Java and Solvay 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%
24%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
25.7%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
6.9%±2.5Highest
NY: 7%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
Solvay 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
$61,166±$7k
29% below NY
$52,347±$9kLowest
39% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$150,000±$13k
65% below NY
$122,100±$14kLowest
71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$946±$77Highest
42% below NY
$898±$169
45% below NY
Solvay and Sidney 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
$4,459Highest
32% below NY
$3,329Lowest
49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
32.1%±9.2
NY: 52.1%
39.5%±16.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
Sidney and Solvay 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%
6.9%
NY: 14%
19.7%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
51.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
55.3%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Highest
3 yrs older than NY
1947Lowest
12 yrs older than NY
1955
4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
17% below NY
19 minLowest
41% below NY
24 min
25% below NY
Work from home
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
6.9%±3.2Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #228 of 484 in NY
School district — — SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.8
On TownTapestry
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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.