Compare towns
Berne vs Java vs Knox 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
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Knox has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
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 | Java | Knox | Sennett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,679 |
2,049Lowest |
2,559 |
3,264Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.7±3.3 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
49.8±6.7Highest 25% above NY |
47.6±4.2 20% above NY |
| Knox and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±3.7Lowest 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 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% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
5.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| Knox 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±$33k 22% above NY |
$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY |
$124,083±$14kHighest 44% above NY |
$101,585±$18k 18% above NY |
| Knox and Berne 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 |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$299,800±$37kHighest 29% below NY |
$279,300±$33k 34% below NY |
| Knox and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$537 39% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,125±$44Highest 31% below NY |
$978±$217 40% below NY |
| Knox and Berne 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 |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,451 32% below NY |
$5,397Highest 18% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±87.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.8%±34 NY: 52.1% |
49%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Berne and Knox 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% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
6.3%Highest NY: 14% |
5.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.8% NY: 54.3% |
91.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
17.5%±8.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Knox 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) |
| High school in town | BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | 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.