What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dayton	Java
People
Population	1,829Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5 11% above NY	44.2±5.5 11% above NY
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Dayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Dayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,553±$10kLowest 20% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$111,700±$13kLowest 74% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$192Highest 44% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Dayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,161Lowest 52% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26%±17.7Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.3%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Dayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.