Compare towns

Jay vs Clay vs Black Brook

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).

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.

MeasureJayClayBlack Brook
People
Population
2,354
59,995Highest
1,315Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
NY: +4.2%
+4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-2.9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.8±4.6
23% above NY
39.8±1Lowest
about the NY average
56.5±5.8Highest
42% above NY
Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16%±4.1
NY: 20.5%
20.1%±1.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Clay and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.3%±4.8
NY: 17.9%
18.7%±1.1Lowest
NY: 17.9%
36%±5.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%
NY: 40.2%
38.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
26.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±1.7Lowest
NY: 7%
4.4%±0.7
NY: 7%
4.9%±3.8Highest
NY: 7%
Black Brook and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,380±$19k
16% below NY
$90,707±$6kHighest
6% above NY
$67,852±$20kLowest
21% below NY
Clay and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,900±$22kLowest
54% below NY
$205,900±$6kHighest
51% below NY
$202,200±$48k
52% below NY
Clay and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,272±$366Highest
22% below NY
$1,240±$40
24% below NY
$783±$461Lowest
52% below NY
Jay and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,741
43% below NY
$5,087Highest
23% below NY
$3,633Lowest
45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.4%±21.1Lowest
NY: 52.1%
46.6%±5.6
NY: 52.1%
46.9%±32Highest
NY: 52.1%
Black Brook and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
8.4%Highest
NY: 14%
7.5%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%Highest
NY: 54.3%
71.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
88.1%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1970Lowest
11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% below NY
21 minLowest
34% below NY
32 minHighest
3% below NY
Work from home
8.8%±3.2
NY: 14.9%
13.1%±1.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Clay and Jay 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 — #249 of 484 in NY —
School district AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None in town LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.0
—
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.