Cato, New York Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cato, New York had a total population of 515, the 1049th largest village in New York, with a median household income of $82,292, which is 4% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.8%.
Cato Quick Facts
How Cato Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 400 | 515 | +28.7% |
| Median household income | $65,982 | $82,292 | +24.7% |
| Median home value | $154,600 | $163,300 | +5.6% |
How Cato Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cato Rankings in New York
Explore New York Rankings
Other Cities in Cayuga County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 26,285 | $51,052 | 19.5% | $152,800 |
| Melrose Park | 1,960 | $103,723 | 6.1% | $224,400 |
| Weedsport | 1,954 | $70,865 | 16.6% | $166,800 |
| Moravia | 1,385 | $63,073 | 10.5% | $131,300 |
| Union Springs | 1,255 | $81,250 | 4.4% | $162,500 |
| Fair Haven | 1,013 | $57,390 | 9.7% | $189,300 |
| Port Byron | 900 | $48,750 | 24.6% | $100,500 |
| Aurora | 651 | $71,250 | 14.0% | $262,500 |
| Cayuga | 575 | $97,885 | 7.5% | $158,100 |
| Meridian | 220 | $93,750 | 15.0% | $143,200 |
Cities Similar to Cato
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | 508 | $80,385 | $158,600 | 27.4% | 9.7% |
| Chestertown | 499 | $83,750 | $210,000 | 31.4% | 7.4% |
| East Durham | 495 | $82,813 | $193,100 | 18.3% | 7.7% |
| Olcott | 527 | $87,833 | $200,000 | 33.6% | 8.2% |
| Northampton | 499 | $78,421 | $393,300 | 18.1% | 8.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 515, Cato's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Cato is a small community located in New York, within Cayuga County. The total population is 515. It ranks as the 1049th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cato is 40.2 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 39.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cato is $82,292. This is 4% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.5%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is 87% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $163,300. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Cato is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 54.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
Cato has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.0% vs 52.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 19.8%.
Education
14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Cato, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cato, New York?
Cato, New York has a population of 515 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Cato, NY?
The median household income in Cato is $82,292, which is 2% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Cato, NY?
The poverty rate in Cato is 9.5%. This means approximately 49 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Cato, New York?
Cato's population is 92.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Cato, NY?
The median home value in Cato is $163,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
How educated is Cato, New York?
14.5% of adults (25+) in Cato hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.