What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grand Island has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

Java has the most affordable 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	Grand Island	Java
People
Population	21,488Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.7±2.5Highest 15% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Grand Island and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Grand Island are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Grand Island and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Grand Island and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,991±$12kHighest 35% above NY	$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY
	Grand Island and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$327,000±$14kHighest 23% below NY	$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,199±$67Highest 26% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Grand Island and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,850Highest 11% below NY	$3,775Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±12.3Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Grand Island and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%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	19 minLowest 42% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	18%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Grand Island and Java 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	#145 of 484 in NY	—
School district	GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
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.