Compare towns
Starkey vs Java vs Wayne vs Hector
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starkey has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Starkey | Java | Wayne | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,381 |
2,049 |
1,033Lowest |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.5Lowest 4% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
51.1±4 28% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Starkey and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Hector and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,064±$7kLowest 36% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
| Java and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,700±$17kLowest 66% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Wayne and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $744±$96Lowest 54% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,031±$304 36% below NY |
$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
| Hector and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,412Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,967 40% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Starkey and Hector 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 | #358 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.