Compare towns
Independence vs Java vs Russia vs Granger
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 most people working from home (9%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k median).
Granger has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Russia | Granger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 756 |
2,049 |
2,272Highest |
614Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
39.7±8.9Lowest about the NY average |
| Java and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
27.5%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Granger and Russia 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% |
20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±6.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Russia 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% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 7% |
| Independence and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$15k 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$66,875±$14kLowest 22% below NY |
| Java and Russia 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 |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
$125,000±$20k 71% below NY |
| Russia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $609±$84 62% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$888±$325Highest 45% below NY |
$588±$492Lowest 64% below NY |
| Russia 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
$2,754 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±29.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±89.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Granger and Russia 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% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
13.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
82.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
31 min 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Granger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.