Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ira vs Java vs Columbus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most renters (15.9% rent).
Ira has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Brookfield | Ira | Java | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
2,019 |
2,049 |
849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY |
42.8±3.1 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.6±11.8 10% above NY |
| Java and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±6.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
19% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
| Ira and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 20% below NY |
$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
| Ira and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 64% below NY |
$158,800±$16k 63% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
— | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 51% below NY |
$3,594 45% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,071Lowest 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NY: 14% |
4.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
30 min 7% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
32 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1 NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.