Compare towns

Colden vs Java vs Boston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colden has the most people working from home (15%).
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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.

MeasureColdenJavaBoston
People
Population
3,145
2,049Lowest
7,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-0.9%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
49.3±10.4
24% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
51.5±3.5Highest
29% above NY
Boston 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%
14.5%±3.3Lowest
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%±4.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.3%±3.4
NY: 17.9%
Colden and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41%Highest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
32%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3.3Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
2.4%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
Colden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,935±$15kHighest
14% above NY
$95,129±$24k
11% above NY
$92,482±$16kLowest
8% above NY
Colden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$302,600±$42kHighest
29% below NY
$223,900±$30kLowest
47% below NY
$266,900±$18k
37% below NY
Colden and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$943±$142
42% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$1,347±$49Highest
17% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,752
28% below NY
$3,775Lowest
43% below NY
$4,758Highest
28% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±28
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
62.2%±33.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Boston and Colden 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%Lowest
NY: 14%
4.9%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
79.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Highest
10 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1966
7 yrs newer 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%±7.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
8.5%±4.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Colden and Java 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 — #414 of 484 in NY
School district SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — HAMBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.