Compare towns
Brasher vs Gaines vs Java vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
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 | Gaines | Java | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592 |
3,216Highest |
2,049 |
1,623Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±9Highest 17% above NY |
45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
35.5±8.2Lowest 11% below NY |
| Brasher and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
26.1%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lawrence and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
14.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,911±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
$56,582±$8k 34% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$64,318±$11k 25% below NY |
| Java and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$94,700±$14kLowest 78% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195 55% below NY |
$922±$72Highest 43% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$695±$429Lowest 57% below NY |
| Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500 62% below NY |
$3,157 52% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,369Lowest 64% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
64.4%±32 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% NY: 54.3% |
74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 37% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines and Java 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 | — | — | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | SAINT LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.