Compare towns
Edwards vs Java vs Potter vs Fowler
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edwards has the most affordable homes ($102k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Fowler has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Edwards | Java | Potter | Fowler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,327Lowest |
2,049Highest |
1,871 |
1,869 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 34.1±8.7Lowest 14% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
35.1±6.7 12% below NY |
50.8±3.6Highest 28% above NY |
| Fowler and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 31%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
17.4%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Edwards and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Fowler and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
18.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
2%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Potter and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,300±$14k 16% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$67,344±$19k 22% below NY |
$49,875±$8kLowest 42% below NY |
| Java and Edwards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $101,800±$9kLowest 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$130,300±$23k 69% below NY |
$155,700±$53k 63% below NY |
| Java and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$331Lowest 48% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,005±$136 38% below NY |
$1,017±$149Highest 37% below NY |
| Fowler and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,225 66% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,796 58% below NY |
$1,668Lowest 75% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±17.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Fowler and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
16.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Potter 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 | 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.

