Compare towns
Independence vs Java vs Jerusalem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Independence has the most affordable homes ($101k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Jerusalem has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Independence | Java | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 756Lowest |
2,049 |
4,278Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY |
| Java and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Independence and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jerusalem and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
45.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,780±$11k about the NY average |
| Java and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$320,900±$59kHighest 24% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $609±$84Lowest 62% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$870±$116Highest 46% below NY |
| Jerusalem and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,523Highest 31% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±29.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.3%±43.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Jerusalem and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Jerusalem 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 | 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.