Central New York
Cato, New York
Cato is a town in Cayuga County, in New York's Central New York region, home to about 2,400 people as of the 2020 census.
Syracuse, Finger Lakes edges, and quiet countryside. Cato sits in that part of the state.
- Type
- Town
- County
- Cayuga
- Region
- Central New York
- Population (2020)
- 2,445
Local Almanac
Notes in and around Cato
Short, sourced notes tied to this place, its county, or nearby communities.
This place · History & Culture
Cato's Map Was Shaped by Water Crossings
Cato's official history ties the town to Cross Lake, the Seneca River, ferry crossings, farms, and a railroad bridge story.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Elbridge Explains Itself Through Creeks, Canal Villages, and Route 5
Elbridge has a two-village pattern shaped by Skaneateles Creek, Jordan canal commerce, Route 5, and a glacial drumlin landscape.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Brutus Reads Through Weedsport's Canal Basin
Brutus gets direct local texture from Weedsport, where a former canal basin still frames village identity and visitor history.
Read this note ->Nearby · Money & Taxes
Cayuga Tax Searches Are a Closing-Table Check
Before relying on a Cayuga County tax number, check whether a certified Treasurer search or exact online payment amount is needed.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Ira Still Reads Like Military Tract Farm Country
Ira's town story sits inside the old Cato military township, with modern clues in farmland planning, zoning, taxes, and the Cato address locals still use.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Port Byron Lets Thruway Travelers Walk Into Canal History
Port Byron's canal identity is unusually visible because Lock 52 and canal-era buildings sit directly off the Thruway corridor.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Mentz Was Jefferson Before Port Byron Took the Canal Stage
Mentz's Cayuga County story runs through the old Jefferson name, Port Byron, the Erie Canal, and a handful of famous passersby.
Read this note ->Nearby · Money & Taxes
Weedsport Village Business Runs Through One Office
Weedsport residents can start many routine village questions with the Village Office, from water bills to resident forms, permits, FOIL, and local contact routes.
Read this note ->Nearby · Money & Taxes
Elbridge Owners Can Check Bills Online Before Calling the Tax Office
Elbridge's official site says property tax bills can be viewed and paid online, with assessment-roll access also linked.
Read this note ->Property tax snapshot
Roughly $21–$24 per $1,000
Combined full-value rate — county + town/city + school district, per $1,000 of market value (FY2025). On a $300,000 home that's about $6,347–$7,110 a year before the STAR break.
A planning estimate, not a bill. Your exact rate depends on your school district and any village. Confirm with the assessor.
Statewide links
Statewide starting points.
Good to know
- • Your assessed value usually isn't your market value — ask for the equalization rate.
- • Register for STAR; new applicants generally receive a credit instead of an automatic exemption on the bill.
- • Outside the cities, check the well, the septic, and the FEMA flood map before you buy.
Nearby
Nearby places
Tax rates: NYS Dept of Taxation & Finance (ORPTS), Real Property Tax Rates and Levy Data by Municipality, data.ny.gov dataset iq85-sdzs. (FY2025). Population: U.S. Census 2020. Reviewed June 2026. Source data ->
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