Compare towns
Brookfield vs Java vs Russia 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 highest household income ($95k).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k median).
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 | Russia | Edmeston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150 |
2,049Lowest |
2,272Highest |
2,130 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest 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 |
43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
35.4±1.6Lowest 11% below 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%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 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%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
20% 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% |
3.3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$67,639±$12kLowest 21% below NY |
| 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±$28k 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
$147,400±$14kLowest 65% 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±$75 39% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
$988±$295Highest 39% below NY |
| Edmeston 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
$2,019Lowest 69% 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% |
35.3%±21.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Brookfield and Edmeston 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% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
78.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
25 minLowest 24% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Edmeston and Brookfield 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 | 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.