Compare towns
Milo vs Java vs North Syracuse vs Ridgeway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milo has the most people working from home (11.3%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
North Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Ridgeway has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Milo | Java | North Syracuse | Ridgeway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823Highest |
2,049Lowest |
6,693 |
6,514 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.2 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the NY average |
42.3±3 6% above NY |
| Java and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.6%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Milo and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Milo and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6.8%±3Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| North Syracuse and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$9kLowest 27% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,026±$7k 17% below NY |
$69,516±$8k 19% below NY |
| Java and North Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,200±$16k 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$163,000±$8k 62% below NY |
$149,900±$15kLowest 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$137Lowest 55% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$995±$72Highest 39% below NY |
$934±$49 42% below NY |
| North Syracuse and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,425Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,764Highest 28% below NY |
$4,109 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.2%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.4%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
| North Syracuse and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.2% NY: 14% |
10.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
67.2% NY: 54.3% |
69.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 51% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
25 min 24% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Milo 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 | #84 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | PENN YAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | PENN YAN ACADEMY | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.