What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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	Franklin	Java
People
Population	1,251Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.1±6.6Highest 36% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Franklin and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Franklin and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,456±$18kLowest about the NY average	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$226,700±$51kHighest 47% below NY	$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY
	Franklin and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$706±$273Lowest 56% below NY	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY
	Java and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,515Lowest 62% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.6%±60.7Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Franklin and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.8%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	8.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Franklin 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.