What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harford has the most affordable homes ($110k median).

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	Harford	Java
People
Population	980Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±13Highest 17% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,905±$3kLowest 12% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$109,800±$40kLowest 74% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$119Highest 37% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,684Lowest 44% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±24.2Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	13.2%±8.8Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Harford 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.