Compare towns
Colden vs Java vs Aurora
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 affordable homes ($224k median).
Aurora has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
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 | Colden | Java | Aurora |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,145 |
2,049Lowest |
13,882Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±10.4 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
51.6±3.2Highest 30% above NY |
| Aurora and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.7%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Aurora and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
51.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Colden and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,935±$15k 14% above NY |
$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY |
$102,065±$9kHighest 19% above NY |
| Aurora and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$42k 29% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$364,800±$20kHighest 14% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $943±$142 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,116±$175Highest 31% below NY |
| Aurora and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,752 28% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$6,759Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
39.4%±12.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Colden and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 19% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 15%±7.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
21.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Aurora and Colden 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 | #346 of 484 in NY | — | #78 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | EAST AURORA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | EAST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7 |
| 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.