Compare towns
Brasher vs Java vs Brasher Falls 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 has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Brasher Falls has the most renters (39.8% rent).
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 | Java | Brasher Falls | Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592Highest |
2,049 |
776Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±9 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
49.3±18.7 24% 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 | 18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±7.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7 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+ | 23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.4Highest 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+ | 10.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
12.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
10.1%±6.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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 | $53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$52,868±$35kLowest 39% below 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 | $124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$98,000±$43k 77% below NY |
$89,200±$13kLowest 79% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195 55% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$416±$387Lowest 74% 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 | $2,500 62% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,488 62% below NY |
$2,089Lowest 68% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
75.4%±34.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±12.1 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 | 22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.2% NY: 14% |
20.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
60.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
76.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 37% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
1.4%±2.7Lowest 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. | ||||
| 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.