Compare towns
Brasher vs Java vs Moira vs Gaines
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).
Moira has the most affordable homes ($93k median).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brasher | Java | Moira | Gaines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592 |
2,049Lowest |
2,895 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±9Highest 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
38±7.6Lowest 5% below NY |
45.5±4.4 14% above 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
23.7%±5.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Moira 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% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.6%±6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest 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% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20% NY: 40.2% |
14.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Gaines 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±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$64,116±$15k 25% below NY |
$56,582±$8k 34% below NY |
| Java and Moira 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 |
$92,600±$12kLowest 78% below NY |
$125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$746±$190 54% below NY |
$922±$72Highest 43% 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$1,695Lowest 74% below NY |
$3,157 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.3%±32.8 NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Moira 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% |
20.1% NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
1%±1.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest 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 | — | #405 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | BRUSHTON-MOIRA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | BRUSHTON-MOIRA HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.