Compare towns
Java vs Sylvan Beach vs Arcade
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).
Sylvan Beach has the oldest population (median age 55.4).
Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Sylvan Beach | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049 |
881Lowest |
4,210Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
55.4±7.9Highest 39% above NY |
46±3.7 16% above NY |
| Sylvan Beach and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
8.5%±6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Arcade 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% |
23.5%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Sylvan Beach and Arcade 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% |
24.3% NY: 40.2% |
23.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 7% |
5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Arcade 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 |
$57,000±$27kLowest 34% below NY |
$62,011±$8k 28% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$180,100±$24k 58% below NY |
$163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY |
| Java and Sylvan Beach 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 |
$1,008±$181Highest 38% below NY |
$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY |
| Sylvan Beach and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,211Highest 36% below NY |
$4,172 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37.8%±31.7 NY: 52.1% |
40.4%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Arcade and Sylvan Beach 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% |
11.1% NY: 14% |
11.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Sylvan Beach and Java 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 | — | — | #260 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.


