Compare towns
Barre vs Java vs Elba
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Elba has the most people working from home (11.5%).
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 | Barre | Java | Elba |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,910Lowest |
2,049 |
2,210Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.2±6.7Highest 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
33.8±5.6Lowest 15% below 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%±4.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.3%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Elba and Barre 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest 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% |
24.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Elba and Java 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 |
$91,875±$21k 7% above NY |
| Java and Elba 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 |
$149,700±$17k 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,158±$208Highest 29% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$966±$123 40% below NY |
| Barre and Elba 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,124Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.5%±20.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Barre and Elba 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% |
8.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.5%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Elba and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | ELBA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | ELBA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.