Compare towns
Gaines vs Java vs Murray vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Murray has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($106k 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.
| Measure | Gaines | Java | Murray | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
2,049Lowest |
4,754Highest |
4,402 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.5±4.4Highest 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average |
44.6±4.1 12% above NY |
| Gaines and Norfolk 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% |
20.5%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
18.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Murray 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.7Lowest 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% |
16.9% NY: 40.2% |
14.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
6%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Norfolk 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 |
$65,077±$5k 24% below NY |
$67,500±$13k 21% below NY |
| Java and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$123,800±$14k 71% below NY |
$105,800±$20kLowest 75% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $922±$72Highest 43% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$826±$63 49% below NY |
$788±$118Lowest 51% 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 | $3,157 52% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,907Highest 41% below NY |
$2,270Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±20.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Norfolk and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
13.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
76.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±6.4 NY: 14.9% |
1.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #430 of 484 in NY | #462 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NORWOOD-NORFOLK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | NORWOOD-NORFOLK SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.