Compare towns
Brookfield vs Java vs Somerset 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 youngest population (median age 41.2).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Somerset has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Java | Somerset | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150 |
2,049 |
3,060Highest |
849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.2±1.5Highest 14% above NY |
43.6±11.8 10% above NY |
| Somerset and Java 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% |
23.2%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±9 NY: 20.5% |
| Somerset 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% |
21.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Somerset 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
| Somerset 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 |
$69,167±$14k 20% below NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% 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 |
$167,200±$25k 61% below NY |
$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$769±$259Lowest 53% 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,304 50% below NY |
$3,071Lowest 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.9%±17.9 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.8% NY: 14% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.6% NY: 54.3% |
88.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
32 min about the NY average |
32 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±3.5 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #73 of 484 in NY | — |
| 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.