Compare towns

Brookfield vs Java vs Russia

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 affordable homes ($153k median).
Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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.

MeasureBrookfieldJavaRussia
People
Population
2,150
2,049Lowest
2,272Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.7%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-12.3%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
41.2±6.1Lowest
4% above NY
44.2±5.5Highest
11% above NY
43.9±2.9
10% above NY
Java and Russia 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%
20.7%±4.7Lowest
NY: 20.5%
21.3%±4.1
NY: 20.5%
Brookfield and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±4
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
20.8%±3.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
Russia and Brookfield 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%
NY: 40.2%
28.5%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
3.3%±1.7Highest
NY: 7%
Russia 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±$9kLowest
20% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$86,116±$17k
about the NY average
Java and Russia 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
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$232,200±$44kHighest
45% below NY
Russia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$981±$75Highest
39% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$888±$325
45% below NY
Brookfield and Russia 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
$2,939Lowest
55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.4%±35.6Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
31.1%±10.8
NY: 52.1%
Brookfield and Russia 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%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
9.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
89.7%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1959
same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
11% above NY
27 minLowest
17% below NY
33 min
about the NY average
Work from home
11.5%±4.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
6.2%±3.5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Brookfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.