Compare towns
Brasher Falls vs Java vs Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Machias has the most affordable homes ($89k 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.
| Measure | Brasher Falls | Java | Machias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 776Lowest |
2,049 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±18.7 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
49.7±7.6Highest 25% above NY |
| Machias and Brasher Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±7.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±6.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Machias and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
12.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Brasher Falls and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,868±$35kLowest 39% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$59,485±$19k 31% below NY |
| Java and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $98,000±$43k 77% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$89,200±$13kLowest 79% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $416±$387Lowest 74% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,018±$112Highest 37% below NY |
| Machias and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,488 62% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,089Lowest 68% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.4%±34.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±12.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
76.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.4%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Machias 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 | 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.