Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ira vs Java vs Plainfield
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Ira has the highest household income ($97k).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
2,019 |
2,049 |
1,016Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 4% above NY |
42.8±3.1 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY |
| Java and Ira 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%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Brookfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.7 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% NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9kLowest 20% below NY |
$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$70,673±$6k 18% 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±$28kLowest 64% below NY |
$158,800±$16k 63% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$155,100±$17k 63% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75Highest 39% below NY |
— | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY |
| Brookfield and Java 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 |
$2,667Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40.6%±43.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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% |
7.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 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 |
29 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| 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.