What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gaines 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	Gaines	Java
People
Population	3,216Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.4Highest 14% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,582±$8kLowest 34% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,800±$19kLowest 70% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$922±$72Highest 43% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,157Lowest 52% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.4%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gaines 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.