Compare towns
Edwards vs Java vs Williamstown vs Fine
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Fine has the most people working from home (13.7%).
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 | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,327 |
2,049Highest |
1,522 |
1,284Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.2% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-13.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 34.1±8.7 14% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
30.7±5Lowest 23% below NY |
56.3±4.1Highest 41% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 31%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
29.8%±11 NY: 20.5% |
17.1%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
10.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
12.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.8 NY: 7% |
6.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,300±$14k 16% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$62,170±$13k 28% below NY |
$59,861±$9kLowest 30% 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±$9k 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$110,500±$19k 74% below NY |
$86,600±$17kLowest 80% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$331 48% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$788±$129Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,043±$106Highest 36% below NY |
| Fine and Java 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 |
$2,121 68% below NY |
$1,828Lowest 72% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20%±43.7 NY: 52.1% |
51.2%±56.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Fine and Williamstown 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% NY: 14% |
20.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.5% NY: 54.3% |
88.3% 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 |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
13.7%±9.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Fine and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | CLIFTON-FINE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | CLIFTON-FINE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 5.4 |
| 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.