Compare towns
Brookfield vs Java vs Columbus vs Edmeston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Edmeston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Java | Columbus | Edmeston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
2,049 |
849Lowest |
2,130 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
+4.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 4% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.6±11.8 10% above NY |
35.4±1.6Lowest 11% below 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%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±9 NY: 20.5% |
25.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Edmeston and Brookfield 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% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±6.1 NY: 17.9% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
20% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Edmeston 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$67,639±$12k 21% below NY |
| Java and Brookfield 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 |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY |
$147,400±$14k 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY |
$988±$295 39% below NY |
| Columbus and Edmeston 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,071 53% below NY |
$2,019Lowest 69% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.3%±21.9 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% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.2% NY: 54.3% |
78.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
32 min about the NY average |
25 minLowest 24% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±5.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Columbus and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.