Compare towns

Brasher Falls vs Java vs Machias vs Brasher

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 the most renters (39.8% rent).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Machias has the most affordable homes ($89k median).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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.

MeasureBrasher FallsJavaMachiasBrasher
People
Population
776Lowest
2,049
2,290
2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.7%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.7%
NY: +4.2%
+4.6%Highest
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
46.6±9
17% 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%
18.4%±6.2
NY: 20.5%
Java and Brasher 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%
23.5%±5
NY: 17.9%
Machias and Brasher 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%
10.6%
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%
4.4%±2.2
NY: 7%
Brasher Falls and Brasher 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
$53,911±$14k
37% 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
$124,300±$24k
71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$416±$387Lowest
74% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$1,018±$112Highest
37% below NY
$730±$195
55% 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
$2,500
62% 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%
74.3%±27.2
NY: 52.1%
Brasher Falls and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
20.1%
NY: 14%
22.4%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
76.2%
NY: 54.3%
75.4%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
6 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
1978Highest
19 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
20 min
37% 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%
1.9%±1.8
NY: 14.9%
Java and Machias 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 — — — #300 of 484 in NY
School district — — — BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — — None in town
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.