Compare towns
Brookfield vs Java vs Somerset 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).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Somerset | Edmeston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150 |
2,049Lowest |
3,060Highest |
2,130 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.4% NY: +4.2% |
+4.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 4% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.2±1.5Highest 14% above NY |
35.4±1.6Lowest 11% below 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%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
25.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Edmeston and Somerset 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
20% 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% |
3.3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Somerset and Edmeston 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 |
$67,639±$12kLowest 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 |
$167,200±$25k 61% below NY |
$147,400±$14kLowest 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$769±$259Lowest 53% 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 |
$3,304 50% 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% |
43.9%±17.9 NY: 52.1% |
35.3%±21.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Brookfield and Somerset 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% |
12.8% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.6% 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 |
1964 5 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% |
10.1%±3.5 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 | ||||
| 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.