What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($136k median).

Java has the most expensive homes ($224k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Java
People
Population	1,910Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.2±6.7Highest 14% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Barre and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Barre and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Barre and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,906±$14kLowest 14% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$135,900±$28kLowest 68% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,158±$208Highest 29% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Barre and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,466Lowest 47% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Barre and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.4%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	6.5%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.