Compare towns
Edwards vs Java vs Williamstown
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).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,327Lowest |
2,049Highest |
1,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 34.1±8.7 14% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
30.7±5Lowest 23% below NY |
| Java and Edwards 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%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
29.8%±11 NY: 20.5% |
| Edwards and Williamstown 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%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Edwards 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% |
12.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.8 NY: 7% |
| Java and Williamstown 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 |
$62,170±$13kLowest 28% 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 |
$110,500±$19k 74% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$331 48% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$788±$129Lowest 51% below NY |
| Java and Edwards 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 |
$2,121Lowest 68% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20%±43.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Williamstown and Edwards 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% |
16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
| Work from home | 4.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Williamstown 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 |
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.

