Compare towns
Gainesville vs Java vs Augusta vs Sanford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gainesville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Sanford has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Gainesville | Java | Augusta | Sanford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,839Lowest |
2,049 |
1,851 |
2,130Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
0%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.7±2.7 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±3.3Lowest 10% above NY |
48.7±6.6Highest 22% above NY |
| Sanford and Gainesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
22.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Augusta and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sanford and Gainesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.9% NY: 40.2% |
17.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Sanford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,250±$12kLowest 35% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$57,852±$10k 33% below NY |
$76,724±$6k 11% below NY |
| Java and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,500±$15kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$147,200±$33k 65% below NY |
$140,900±$21k 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $738±$435Lowest 54% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$806±$209 50% below NY |
$792±$88 51% below NY |
| Java and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,256 51% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,062Lowest 53% below NY |
$3,378 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±18.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.2%±17.2 NY: 52.1% |
54%±22.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sanford and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.7% NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 19% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
14.3%±7.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±5.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Augusta and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | LETCHWORTH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | LETCHWORTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.