Compare towns
Mentz vs Java vs Montezuma vs Persia
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 renters (25.8% rent).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Montezuma has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Persia has the most affordable homes ($100k 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 | Mentz | Java | Montezuma | Persia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,753 |
2,049Highest |
1,271Lowest |
2,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.8% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.1±5.3 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.1±7.9Highest 13% above NY |
41.7±15Lowest 5% above NY |
| Montezuma and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Persia and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
12.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Mentz and Persia 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 |
$73,250±$18k 15% below NY |
$54,495±$8k 37% below NY |
| Java and Montezuma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $115,500±$31k 73% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$116,200±$11k 73% below NY |
$100,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$983±$192 39% below NY |
$765±$65Lowest 53% below NY |
| Mentz and Montezuma 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,310Lowest 65% below NY |
$2,655 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±24.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
56.2%±21.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
56.1%±16 NY: 52.1% |
| Montezuma and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.8% NY: 14% |
21.9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83.2% NY: 54.3% |
76.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 31% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.2%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.2%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Montezuma 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 | 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.