Compare towns
Boonville vs Java vs Pike vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boonville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Pike has the most affordable homes ($129k median).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Boonville | Java | Pike | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,880 |
2,049 |
812Lowest |
2,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±6.1 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.3±4.4Highest 21% above NY |
42.4±5.7Lowest 7% above NY |
| Pike and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±7.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
16.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Boonville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±6 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Pike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
15.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Waterford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,316±$15kLowest 40% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,250±$11k 17% below NY |
$72,938±$12k 15% below NY |
| Java and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $177,700±$43k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$129,100±$18kLowest 70% below NY |
$157,500±$30k 63% below NY |
| Java and Boonville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $589±$101Lowest 64% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$810±$762 50% below NY |
$1,082±$91Highest 33% below NY |
| Waterford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,947 55% below NY |
$3,534 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
26.5%±11.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 18.1%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.5% NY: 54.3% |
53.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14%±8.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterford and Boonville 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 | #204 of 484 in NY | — | — | #286 of 484 in NY |
| 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.