Compare towns
Mentz vs Java vs Brutus vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Brutus has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Leyden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Mentz | Java | Brutus | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,753 |
2,049 |
4,269Highest |
1,661Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.6±3.5 10% above NY |
43.6±3.8 10% above NY |
| Java and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.7%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Leyden and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20%±3.8 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+ | 9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
26.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
14% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 NY: 7% |
0.1%±0.9Lowest 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 | $52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$77,031±$10k 10% below NY |
$59,474±$21k 31% below NY |
| Java and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$154,900±$14k 63% below NY |
$173,100±$23k 59% 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 | $1,045±$130 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,114±$122Highest 31% below NY |
$721±$37Lowest 56% below NY |
| Brutus and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,901 56% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,294Highest 35% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±25.8 NY: 52.1% |
53.4%±15.4 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 | 20%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.2% NY: 14% |
13.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
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 |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Leyden 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 | — | — | #313 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.