What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hammond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Hammond	Java
People
Population	1,683Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.8±11.1Lowest 8% below NY	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY
	Java and Hammond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.5%±9.4Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hammond and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±5.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Hammond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Hammond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,375±$21kLowest 15% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Hammond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,500±$38kLowest 61% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
	Java and Hammond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$788±$264Lowest 51% below NY	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY
	Java and Hammond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,706Lowest 59% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hammond and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	28.4%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% below NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	11%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hammond 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.