Compare towns
Berne vs Colden vs Java vs Sennett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Colden has the most people working from home (15%).
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Sennett has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Berne | Colden | Java | Sennett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,679 |
3,145 |
2,049Lowest |
3,264Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.7±3.3 20% above NY |
49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
47.6±4.2 20% above NY |
| Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.4 NY: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.7%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sennett and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% NY: 40.2% |
41%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| Colden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,219±$33kHighest 22% above NY |
$97,935±$15k 14% above NY |
$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY |
$101,585±$18k 18% above NY |
| Berne and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$37k 30% below NY |
$302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$279,300±$33k 34% below NY |
| Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$537Highest 39% below NY |
$943±$142 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$978±$217 40% below NY |
| Berne and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331 34% below NY |
$4,752 28% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$5,397Highest 18% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±87.4 NY: 52.1% |
61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Colden and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
10%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
5.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
26 min 19% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Colden and Berne 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 | #240 of 484 in NY | #346 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) |
| High school in town | BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — | HARRIET TUBMAN RESIDENTIAL CENTER |
| 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.